DEVELOPING A LOCALIZED FRAMEWORK FOR PEACEFUL ELECTIONS AND COUNTY

COHESION A presentation made during NAIROBI County Forum, A presentation made during NAIROBI County Forum,

3131stst July 2012 at ………..Nairobi. July 2012 at ………..Nairobi.

By Sheik Hassan Kinyua.By Sheik Hassan Kinyua.

1

Republic Of Kenya

Overview of the Presentation

• Introduction• The Problem• County Disintegration Issues• Why Localized Framework• Specific objectives • Challenges • Conclusion

Introduction• The next General Election in Kenya will be held

on 4th March 2013.• The elections will be held under a new

constitutional dispensation and will be the first one to be conducted in the country under a dual governance system

• The elections will be conducted when the country is struggling to recover from a past of self-destruction as witnessed during the Post Election Violence (PEV) period of late 2007 and early 2008.

• The elections will determine Kenya’s political and democratic maturity

Introduction Conti..

• The key electoral offices will be filled through a political process. • Such a process is likely to face serious challenges

where a section of the community feels “short-changed”, disenfranchised and excluded from participating in the affairs of their county on account of their numerical weakness. • Kenyan politics still draws its life from a decidedly

ethno-centrist voting pattern, with little or no regard to political ideology or beliefs.

Introduction Conti..

• The assurance that the Constitution expressly outlaws discrimination of any person or social group for whatever reason seems to do little to alleviate community feelings, most of which are borne out of generations of utter neglect.• Often, one gets to hear from minority

communities tales of subjugation, and skewed distribution of resources on account of who wields political power

The Problem

• The country is already beginning to witness a pattern of sporadic conflicts in some cosmopolitan counties as well as a disconcerting emergence of ethnic consciousness.• The root causes of intra and extra-county

conflicts can be linked to stiff competition for different elective leadership positions.

The Problem cont..• Such scenarios may appear harmless and

insignificant in the present circumstances but could potentially mutate and escalate into full-blown conflicts that may ultimately threaten national cohesion and integration.• However, they could potentially mutate and

escalate into full-blown conflicts with the capacity to seriously undermine the functioning of the budding county governments and ultimately threaten national cohesion, integration and security.

County Disintegration Issues Unemployment Poverty Weak governance Party and ethnic- based

politics Historical injustices relating to

land ownership, scarcity of water, corruption, socio-economic deprivations and inequalities etc.

Mistrust among communities

Weak institutional capacity to manage political and social conflicts effectively (e.g. ECK),

Impunity from legal action or pressure from citizens and civil society

Small arms & light weapons Increasing insecurity Failure to pay rent by some

tenants on tribal basis

Upper Eastern Region• Kenya’s intrusion into Somalia has exposed the country

to heightened insecurity occasioned by explosives targeting innocent Kenyans in major cities as well as North Eastern Province.

• Any threat by Al Shabaab that they will disrupt the elections sends a chilling message across the country, in the process inhibiting the ability of IEBC to conduct free, fair and peaceful elections.

• Other issues include disputes over County/electoral units boundaries, the unresolved IDPs issue, proliferation of illicit arms and the possible impact of ICC full trials especially when live witnesses are availed are all pointers of the problem bedevilling the region and country at large. They need urgent attention.

Why Localized Framework?

• Peace must be built from the bottom up. Many top-down agreements collapse because the ground below has not been prepared.

• Top-down approaches need to be buttressed, and relationships built.

• To ensure counties have sustainable peace through a localized framework by involving local individuals, institutions and organizations.

Goals of a localized framework for peaceful elections and county cohesion

• There is need to come up with a localized framework that will contribute to peace building and civic education initiatives.

• The framework should identify and analyze county-specific conflict issues that have the capability to trigger both pre, during and post-election violence in some multi-ethnic counties in Kenya.

Specific objectives

i. To generate, share and disseminate information on specific conflict issues in counties through county and provide appropriate response options.

ii. To forestall pre,during and post election conflicts in counties through the involvement of the relevant stakeholders.

Specific objectives Conti..

iii.To strengthen coordination and collaboration amongst stakeholders through regular stakeholder consultations and meetings.

iv.To continuously monitor conflict dynamics and inform, in a timely manner, authorities and stakeholders for response

Modalities for a Localized Framework• Open space for all parties• Identify opportunities for dialogue and

communication engagement. • Strengthening of local capacity to mediate and

manage conflicts.• Transforming conflicts into opportunities for

solving underlying problems. • Establish engagement between political parties

and local communities in prioritizing the need for peace.

• Enhance respect for cultural diversity and the inclusion of minorities.

Localized Framework

Goals Threats Opportunities Indicators

Challenges

• Inadequate funding for peace initiatives;

• Too many initiatives by both GoK and non-state actors;

• Changing dynamics of conflict. • Uncoordinated efforts by peace stakeholders

Conclusion

• It is important to note that whereas concerted efforts

have been expended towards strengthening national

capacities for conflict prevention and enhancing social

cohesion since PEV, the country remains fragmented

on many fronts, significantly raising the risks of

violence during the forthcoming elections.

• The best way to address these issues is by involving

local communities(elders,youth,women etc) in

establishing strategies for addressing local problems.