Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition Launches Course in Nairobi

The Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) has today, January 6th, launched a Foundation Course on Rehabilitation and Social Reintegration at a Nairobi hotel, marking a key step in strengthening non-kinetic counterterrorism strategies among member states.

The programme is being conducted under the Coalition’s Rehabilitation and Social Reintegration Initiative and targets individuals affected by extremist ideology and terrorist behaviour.

The course has attracted participants from the military, security agencies, and other relevant government institutions, reflecting a multi-agency approach to countering violent extremism.

Officiating the opening ceremony, Brigadier Joel Kirimi from Defence Headquarters emphasised that rehabilitation and reintegration programmes are now indispensable in addressing terrorism.

“Rehabilitation and social reintegration programmes are critical components of modern counterterrorism strategy, complementing operational and intelligence-led efforts,” Brigadier Kirimi said.

He noted that lasting peace and stability cannot be achieved through force alone, stressing the need to confront the deeper causes of radicalisation.

“Achieving long-term security requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the psychological, social, and ideological drivers of extremism,” he added.

Structured Pathways Back to Society

Brigadier Kirimi further highlighted the importance of having clear and standardised frameworks to support individuals disengaging from extremist activities.

“Structured and standardised programmes are essential to ensure that individuals are effectively guided back into society as productive and responsible citizens,” he said, noting that this approach ultimately strengthens national and regional security.

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Challenging Extremist Ideology

Dr. Mansour Al-Qarni, Head of the Ideology Department at IMCTC, highlighted the central role of ideological engagement in countering violent extremism.

“Sustainable security depends on dismantling extremist narratives,” Dr. Al-Qarni observed.

He added that practitioners must be equipped with the right knowledge and tools to support effective reintegration.

“Ideological engagement is key to enabling individuals to reintegrate into society successfully,” he said.

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Course Content and Objectives

The Foundation Course covers critical areas such as de-radicalisation frameworks, psychosocial support mechanisms, legal and ethical considerations, civil-military coordination, and community-based reintegration approaches.

According to IMCTC, the programme is designed to enhance institutional capacity, promote inter-agency cooperation, and standardise best practices across member states in the fight against extremism.

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The image shows brigadier Joel Kirimi and other personnels during the launch of IMCTC