Conflict Management
The dispute over the December 27th, 2007, Presidential election in Kenya thrust Kenya into an inter-tribal conflict between different ethnic factions that has exposed the deeply how fragile peace is especially in a country that had hitherto been seen as an island of peace in a sea of turmoil. Kenya as a country has woken up to the reality that violent conflict is endemic in and between many communities and in many parts of Kenya and the region – driven by poverty but also by a complex mix of historical, political, social, cultural and even religious motives. Although this might cut across all levels, it is much more so in the marginalized and less or under-developed areas – especially along the informal settlements, the rift valley, the coastal zone and at the borders with neighboring countries. As new challenges like competitive politics and climate change compound these historic causes it will become even more important to address structural issues that foster and drive conflict at a fundamental level. Managing conflict will be a key need for government and communities alike.
Pact Kenya is addressing conflict and peace especially through the KCSSP and PEACE II Programmes.
Kenya Civil Society Strengthening Programme (KCSSP)
In the wake of the disputed Presidential Elections, Kenya has nearly been torn apart by ethnic and political conflict. A political settlement signed in February paves the way for resolution of the political crisis, but communities and institutions remain shell-shocked. Pact Kenya and Pact, Inc have received funding from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to support activities related to: national and/or community-level peace-building, including media activities; inter and intra-community dialogue and reconciliation, policy advocacy to achieve positive change in the peace policy environment, advocacy against impunity to those who organized, funded, coordinated or executed the post-election violence, technical assistance and information provision in partnership with governmental or other institutions with an interest or mandate of peace building, prevention of violence, peace mitigation and management.
Peace in East and Central Africa (PEACE II)
PEACE II is focused on the areas within the pastoral arc of the Horn of Africa and thus this program has a regional perspective as it addresses communities living in conflict cross border in Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Southern Sudan and Uganda. Pact Kenya is able to draw on its past experience within Kenya as well as supporting the Pact Sudan Country Program in addressing this important thematic platform. This program has started and Pact Kenya and Pact are currently conducting baseline studies to form the basis of analysis and as the starting point of this programme.
