The Role of the Catholic Church in Curbing Youth Unemployment, Insecurity, and Radicalisation in Kenya

• Peterson Kabugi

  Laikipia University

  Author

Youth unemployment, insecurity, and radicalisation remain pressing and intertwined challenges in Kenya, with a disproportionate impact on urban and peri-urban youth. While government responses have been documented extensively, the role of faith-based organisations (FBOs) as non-state actors in youth empowerment and security promotion remains underexplored in academic discourse. This study fills this critical gap by analysing the strategic contributions of the Catholic Church in Kenya in mitigating youth unemployment, curbing radicalisation, and promoting community security. Drawing on a qualitative research design, the study utilised 25 semi-structured interviews with Catholic clergy, youth beneficiaries, and program officers, as well as content analysis of over 40 institutional reports and public documents from diocesan development offices across Nairobi, Kisumu, and Eldoret. Findings indicate that Catholic-led initiatives have directly supported over 20,000 youth through vocational training, entrepreneurship incubation, peacebuilding workshops, and counselling services between 2015 and 2023. Programs such as the Catholic Justice and Peace Commission’s youth empowerment centres and Caritas Kenya’s economic resilience hubs have enhanced skills acquisition, social cohesion, and nonviolent conflict resolution. The Church has also contributed to national policy conversations by advocating for youth-focused development strategies and forging interfaith alliances for peace. This paper recommends the urgent expansion of Catholic digital training academies, increased resource allocation to faith-based organisation (FBO)-led vocational institutions, and formalised partnerships between the Church, state, and private sector. By anchoring its interventions in moral teachings and providing practical livelihood support, the Catholic Church exemplifies how FBOs can be transformative agents in Kenya’s security and development architecture.

1. Peterson Kabugi , Laikipia University

   Rev. Fr. Dr. Peterson Thumi Kabugi is a Catholic priest, lecturer, and researcher specializing in theology, religious studies, and community development. He holds a PhD in Religious Studies from Laikipia University, a Master of Theology from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, and a Bachelor of Theology from the Pontifical Urbaniana University. Currently serving as a lecturer in the Department of Public Affairs and Environmental Studies at Laikipia University, Fr. Dr. Kabugi has also held several key leadership roles, including University Chaplain, Acting Department Chair, and Dean of Students. His research interests include women's empowerment and religion, spiritual theology, and contemporary religious issues. He has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and is the author of a forthcoming book on research methods in religious studies. Deeply committed to holistic education and societal transformation, he serves on various educational and health boards and has participated in several national and international conferences on chaplaincy, drug prevention, and institutional management. Ordained in 2007, he continues to blend academic rigor with pastoral service.

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