On January 30th, the Technical University of Mombasa hosted a delegation from Indonesia, which included senior officials from the Indonesian Counter-Terrorism Agency (BNPT). The purpose of the visit was to showcase the skills that students have developed through the ongoing partnership with the Indonesian government. The event was organized by the Kenya Community Support Centre (KECOSCE), a key partner of the Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA) project.
The event was officially opened by Vice Chancellor Professor Laila Abubakar, who emphasized the critical role of universities in preventing and countering violent extremism, as these institutions often serve as hotspots for such activities. The Vice Chancellor acknowledged that, with support from JISRA and KECOSCE, the country is intensifying its efforts to combat terrorism.
Universities and colleges play a strategic role and have unique responsibilities in countering and preventing violent extremism (C/PVE) within society. They can serve multiple functions, including acting as detectors, preventers, planners, and creators of ideas to tackle the threat of violent extremism, both in their communities and in broader society. This is why the Technical University of Mombasa conducted PCVE trainings last year in colloboration with the National Counter Terrorism Centre of Kenya, where staff and students were educated on preventing and countering violent extremism.
Key guests gave brief speeches to the students and the TUM community present. This included Mr. Dionnisius Elvan from the Indonesian National Counter-Terrorism Agency, Ms. Phyllis Muema, the Executive Director of KECOSCE, Mr. Rick Van Der Woud, the JISRA lead, and our own Dr. Fathima Azmiya of TUM, who has been at the forefront of the JISRA Knowledge agenda platform of the University of Groningen.
The guests were entertained by a group of TUM students who performed Pencak Silat, a martial art that originated in Indonesia. The team has won several medals since 2023 when the martial art was introduced at the university.
Sports such as Pencak Silat are among the university's initiatives to provide safe spaces for youth to engage with one another productively. The Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic and Research, Professor Peter Gichangi, reiterated this point, stating that such activities harness the energy of youth into peaceful actions, diverting them from spaces that could lead them astray. He also emphasized that TUM is committed to matters of security and peace maintenance of the country and beyond.
The speakers highlighted the importance of youth empowerment, promoting peace, encouraging inter-religious harmony, and emphasizing the roles of youth and women in society.
Overall, the event was successful, opening conversations on how to further strengthen the collaboration between Kenya and Indonesia. Additionally, the university is eager to enhance its partnership by establishing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Kenya Community Support Centre (KECOSCE) for mutual benefit.
