Invisible Violence in Kenya

InstrumentThe for Stability, Crisis Preparedness Component Invisible Violence in Kenya The INVISIBLE VIOLENCE IN KENYA A Case Study of Rift Valley and Western Regions This project is funded by the European Union A project implemented by Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung in partnership with Mount Elgon Resident Association, Catholic Justice and Peace Commission and in association with Community Initiative Action Group. The INVISIBLE VIOLENCE IN KENYA A Case Study of Rift Valley and Western Regions Phoebe Akinyi-Dar Nyawalo George Odhiambo Kabongah Otieno Ombok Patrick Leo Kamau Magero Moses Onyango Manasseh Wepundi John Obiri This study was commissioned by Konrad-Adenauer–Stiftung (KAS) and local partners with funding from the European Union ii Copyright Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung First Edition, 2011 All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Published by: Konrad Adenauer-Stiftung Nairobi Kenya Edited by: Professor Okoth Okombo Printed by: ISBN NO. iii Preface This book is intended to help state actors, non-state actors and the donor community to identify causal factors and trends of conflict by examining the situation in Rift Valley and Western regions of Kenya. These regions comprise what, before the enactment of the new Constitution, used to be Western, Rift Valley and Nyanza provinces (of Kenya) - hence the reference to them as such in many parts of the text. The research was carried out by some of Kenya’s senior research consultants and is a response to the events that followed the announcement of the 2007 presidential election in Kenya. The study was commissioned by the European Union in collaboration with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and its local partners within the context of the action “Strengthening non-state actors’ capacities to prevent and resolve conflicts in areas affected by the post election violence in Kenya”. Since perennial conflicts in the intervention areas have a direct bearing on the action, the success of the action therefore is dependent on acquiring a detailed understanding of the background to the conflict before interventionist efforts are prescribed. The research was carried out in each region with the understanding that each of them had been affected differently. This study is unique in that it allowed the researchers to come up with easily comparable data from the three provinces (constituting the two regions) despite the fact that each province was administratively, geographically and demographically distinct. The study avoided the usual selection of “hot spot” areas that gives a fragmented view of what is taking place in the society as a whole and revealed that even so-called “peaceful” areas in the Kenyan context contain latent but very volatile elements that can explode at the slightest provocation. Since most violent eruptions are both trans-border as well as within a given province, the study gave a broad overview of how a meaningful intervention could be approached. The study included similarities in the identified causes of violence, notably poverty, unemployment and poor governance, as evidenced by the centralization of power and control of public resources and decision-making in the institution of the presidency. iv In an effort to understand how the identified fragile and socially untenable structures (causes of violence) had been able to consolidate and sustain the Kenyan socio-political system for so long, the researchers explored new areas of analysis to enable them to understand the Kenyan phenomenon. This led to the conceptualization and understanding of violence in its various forms. The report contains a comprehensive historical background of Kenya, followed by a summary of research findings and analysis, the impact of the conflict and, finally, the relevant recommendations. Supporting materials include case studies that the reader, especially a resident of one of the three provinces, can identify with. The findings are expected to be a guide to approaches, contacts and engagement strategies that can be applied at various project stages to enhance increased levels of intercommunity interaction with much less occurrence of violent conflict in the selected provinces. Anke Lerch Project Director Konrad Adenauer Stiftung April, 2010. v Note from the Lead Researcher In this study, we have attempted to identify the root causes of violence in Kenya by looking at three contiguous provinces (Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western provinces) using methods that had a strong anthropological bias. The use of such exploratory methods provided us (the researchers) with the means for making necessary abstractions and a window for gleaning bits of information from the relevant literature to understand how mainstream discourse on social relations and domains are capable of concealing the actual roots of the problems that afflict us. The findings brought into focus the dilemma faced by young Kenyans, most of whom were born way after independence (1963) and who have mainly grown up in multi-ethnic/cultural settings, a typical feature of our social spaces. It is this group of post-independence young Kenyans that makes the bulk of the adult population in the present-day Kenya. Unfortunately, the group continues to be the easy fodder for violence, and it is the futures of its members that such events greatly jeopardize. A priori, we took cognizance of the fact that the people in this group find themselves incessantly thrown into social spaces that spew prejudices and other half-baked “truths”. Such situations necessarily create blurred images of reality and may lead to steady descent into a state of sublime confusion. We therefore worked on the premise that there was need to attempt a functional template, that could lead to some understanding of the root causes of violence and which would subsequently enhance their ability to recommend informed interventions in conflict situations. The findings of the study indicate similarities in the identified causes of violence in the three provinces, suggesting the need for synergy in tackling the problems and the use of easily localized frameworks for engaging whole communities (right from the grassroots), in thinking critically and in broad terms about possible solutions. The framework of the analysis adopted involved, among other things, bringing the past into perspective. This provided a context in which to critically review certain myths that haunt our present. We recognize that there is need for the society to engage in types of dialogue that allow alternative discourses to counteract “fossilized truths”. But most important, we envision a kind of civil society that constantly goes back to source, to draw from its positive resources and histories the inspiration to move forward, beyond the conventionally prescribed and even proscribed limits. It is also important to note that in this age of complex socio-political realities, the ability to discern vi meanings and nuances of power relations that easily get dissimulated under various forms of social interactions is a worthwhile form of empowerment. These positions are premised on the view that it is a critical, well informed and therefore transformed civil society that is capable of ensuring the transformation of the state, and not the other way round (cf. Fisher, 1997)1. According to Adams (1993: 329), this transformation requires and emerges from the "forging together, wrenching apart and recreation of discourses which break with their predecessors". It is what Foucault calls the “strategic reversibility” of power relations; a situation where the terms of government practice can be turned into focuses of resistance (Fisher, ibid.) When all is said and done, it looks like the challenge of achieving progressive change in our societies lies on the ability of individuals, groups and associations within our collective communities to challenge certain terms of institutional "truths" so as to move the boundaries of what is “thinkable” and therefore “doable”. Or as Stephen Biko (quoted in Fisher, op. cit.:20) puts it; “Change the way people think and things will never be the same”. Phoebe Akinyi-Dar Nyawalo (Ph.D). Lead-researcher 1 See list of references at the end of the preliminary pages (just before the beginning of Part One). vii Acknowledgements We would like to acknowledge all the contributions to this research. Our heartfelt thanks go to the main field researchers, together with their assistants, who meticulously worked hard to make sure that reliable data were collected and compiled in good time. We are also grateful to the project team for excellent facilitation of the process as well as the donors for enabling this noble undertaking to reach a logical conclusion. Researchers: Phoebe Akinyi-Dar Nyawalo Lead Researcher George Odhiambo Kabongah Researcher for Rift Valley Province Otieno Ombok Researcher for Rift Valley Province Patrick K. L. Magero Researcher for Nyanza Province Moses Onyango Researcher for Nyanza Province Mennasseh Wepundi Researcher for Western Province John Obiri Researcher for Western Province Assistant Researchers: Simiyu Vincent Western Province Agnes Musira Nyanza Province Geofrey Chesire Western Province Edward Gondi Olima Nyanza Province Lydia C. Munyekenye Western Province Emma N. Onsongo Rift Valley Province Kennedy W. Amatete Western Province Noel Bor Rift Valley Province Kennedy Omollo Osana Nyanza Province Mercy Shahale Rift

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