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Kisumu County Conflict Analysis

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Kisumu County Conflict Analysis briefing Kisumu County conflict analysis Introduction complex political and social dynamics that are Kisumu is mostly an ethnically homogenous county affecting the lives of the people in Kisumu County. that is for the most part calm with flares of politically motivated violence especially during periods leading The assessment found that devolution has had some up to and after elections. The large numbers of positive impacts, particularly in relation to unemployed youth, especially in the city, are often infrastructure projects, improvements to health used by politicians, who through these youth use services, and agricultural support. The county’s violence to instil fear in their rivals. The County has commitment to increased representation and also experienced an increase in tensions and participation in governance by traditionally consequently violent conflict along the Nyakach/Nandi marginalised groups, including women and people border and Muhoroni due to cattle rustling and living with disabilities, was also positively received by boundary-related disputes, and a mixture of inter- those interviewed during the assessment, with community rivalry between the Nandi and Luo as well several County Assembly Committees headed by as land issues.1 2007 witnessed a cessation of women and representation by people living with violence between the two communities, which were disabilities serving on the Public Service Board. perceived to have a common political interest in the Despite these positive steps, there remain Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) winning the fundamental challenges in the management of county elections. This changed with the subsequent fallout business. The majority of those consulted felt their between Raila Odinga and William Ruto. expectations had not been met by the County’s Clan-based allegiances are a predominant factor in administration. They attribute the derailment of county the politics of Kisumu County, with minority groups development progress to internal politicking, being unable to participate fully in the social and nepotism, and corruption. political spheres. It was hoped that devolution would play a big role in solving political, inter-ethnic and Drivers of Accountability inter-clan tensions and animosities. It had been This briefing is based on a conflict assessment of hoped that as the residents of Kisumu felt that they Kisumu County undertaken by the National have been ‘denied’ national political leadership, Council of Churches with support from Saferworld sharing of opportunities at the county level would be prioritised, in order to reduce tensions resulting from This analysis is produced under Saferworld’s the perception that they had been left out of political Drivers of Accountability programme, currently leadership. However, wrangles between the County being implemented in three counties in Kenya. Governor’s office and County Assembly have led to This programme supports conflict-sensitive projects stalling, impacting negatively on development approaches to devolved governance by supporting in the county. national level and county institutions to develop the knowledge, expertise, and resources to adopt This briefing is based on a conflict assessment of conflict-sensitive approaches to public participation Kisumu County. It analyses the general conflict and service delivery. The programme also context in Kisumu, particularly the leadership and supports communities to hold their county power dynamics in the new county structure and administrations to account and to act as a check county resources allocation. It also examines existing on any potential abuse of power. peacebuilding and conflict management structures and assesses the extent to which these can be strengthened. The report highlights some of the 1 Kisumu County Peace and Conflict Profile, National Steering Committee on Peacebuilding and Conflict Management (NSC), 2013. Saferworld briefing: Kisumu County conflict analysis June 19, 2015: Page 2 of 9 Methodology administrative and political constituency borders along the Kericho-Kisumu border. In this case, conflict This briefing is based on field and desk research has been around access to land for livelihoods and carried out in July 2014 with a review of the data in community identity. October 2014. The research employed qualitative data collection methods. Through structured focus Perceptions of political marginalisation in the past group discussions, the informants participated in a have often driven conflicts in Kisumu County. joint analysis of their county to generate conflict Interviewees viewed the 2007-2008 post-election dynamics current in their localities. Nine focus group violence as a culmination of anger towards the discussions (FGDs) were carried out in nine wards in perception of being politically marginalised as their the county: Nyalenda A, Nyalenda B, Kondele, preferred presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, was Kisumu North, Railways, Migosi, Muhoroni- Koru, allegedly denied the presidency. The violence that Chemelil, and Market Milimani. The FGDs were followed involved local communities evicting those conducted with representation from women, youth, they considered non-locals who had been in Kisumu minority groups and people with disabilities. They on account of business or employment opportunities. were supplemented with sixteen key informant Properties, especially business premises and homes, interviews (KII) with community representatives, were looted and burnt, mainly by youth though including women, youth, people with disabilities, and women and elderly men were also involved in people from other minority groups. Eight key perpetrating these crimes. informant interviews were also carried out with county government officials, local leaders, opinion leaders Because of the presence of other issues that have and representatives of local civil society caused violent confrontations in the past – for organisations. The informants were selected on the example, cattle rustling at the Nyakach/Nandi border basis of their knowledge of the context and conflict and boundary disputes in Muhoroni – political risks in dynamics in Kisumu County. Kisumu remain high, especially during elections, and are likely to fuel the ongoing conflicts mentioned Context above. The general public and the national government Kisumu County is located in the Nyanza area of believe that devolution can be a successful Western Kenya. It borders Vihiga and Nandi Counties instrument of promoting participation, representation, to the north, Kericho County to the East, Homa Bay inclusion and accountability. Through close proximity County to the south and Siaya County to the west. to communities, subnational governments can The total population, according to the 2009 national effectively respond to the needs of the people and census, is 968,909 people of which 51.1 per cent are consequently salvage legitimacy. However, in Kisumu male and 48.9 per cent female. The County is County, as in other conflict-vulnerable counties, predominantly inhabited by Luo, Luhya and Gusii devolution has proven to be a double-edged sword. communities, but there are also minority groups The manner in which devolution is implemented has including the Kikuyu, Somali, and Indian communities. great implications for whether or not contesting or The County is divided into seven sub-counties; conflicting groups are actually represented in the Kisumu West, Kisumu East, Kisumu Central, public arena, and whether the arrangement Muhoroni, Nyakach, Nyando, and Seme. contributes to peacebuilding efforts. In Kisumu, the The city of Kisumu is the third largest in Kenya and is wrangles within the governor’s office and between the governor’s office and the county assembly members the capital of Kisumu County. It has developed 2 progressively from a railway terminus and internal over myriad issues have only served to port in 1901, to become the leading disenfranchise the people and heighten tensions. commercial/trading, industrial, communication and The County has a number of civil society administrative centre in the Lake Victoria basin. In organisations working on peacebuilding initiatives that addition, Kisumu serves as the communication and target the communities and specifically youth and trading confluence for the Great Lakes region – women. These organisations have partnered with Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi. government institutions such as the National Steering The perceived lack of access to resources, Committee on Peacebuilding and Conflict opportunities for livelihoods, as well as opportunities Management (NSC) and the National Cohesion and to participate fully in dialogue on issues affecting local Integration Commission (NCIC) to conduct peace people has often resulted in conflict in Kisumu. meetings and create awareness on peaceful Conflict issues have also been linked to the question coexistence. These efforts were seen to be of community identities – whereby community groups successful, especially during the election period in identify with particular areas, claiming to have 2013. These initiatives are not as active as they were originated from those areas and arguing that they have been denied access by opposing communities. 2 Participants during the FGD in Kisumu highlighted issues such as In Kisumu this has occurred in relation to allocation of allowances for travel and identification of ward administrators, amid calls for the resignation of the Governor. Saferworld briefing: Kisumu County conflict analysis June
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