By Dr. Kariuki Muigua, PhD (Leading Environmental Law Scholar, Policy Advisor, Natural Resources Lawyer and Dispute Resolution Expert from Kenya), Winner of Kenya’s ADR Practitioner of the Year 2021, ADR Publisher of the Year 2021 and CIArb (Kenya) Lifetime Achievement Award 2021.*
Numerous conflicts in Kenya have been attributed to ethnic clashes as well as poverty and marginalisation of some parts of the country by successive governments. It has been observed that ‘the politicized nature of ethnicity in Kenya, and the fact that both elections and land tenure are closely associated with ethnic identity, are highlighted as key factors explaining the prevalence of violent communal conflict’, with the four main drivers of conflict being: electoral politics, cattle raiding, local resources, and boundaries and local authority. Some conflicts among neighbouring communities in Kenya such as the Turkana and Pokot who have had periodic conflicts have been attributed to scarcity and competition over pasture and water as well as border disputes, and often compounded by the minimum routine interaction and communication between the two communities.
Poverty is a major contributing factor to insecurity and instability especially in the rural areas where communities mainly rely on scarce land based natural resources which are affected by climate change and population growth, among others. It has been observed that ‘rural poverty can be caused by a combination of: living and farming in unfavourable conditions (climate, soils, access to markets, small land holdings); lack of resource access rights, legal protection or recognition; lack of ecosystem services (provisioning, regulating, cultural/spiritual, regenerative); lack of income opportunities (on- or off-farm) in local economies; and lack of investment in the (few) opportunities that exist for market-based ventures. Social stratification in any society may lead to bottled up anger and bitterness which is a recipe for violent and non-violent conflicts.
Despite the constitutional guarantee on freedom from nondiscrimination, protection of the minority and marginalised groups including women through affirmative action, it is a documented fact that inequalities are manifest in Kenya’s economic, social and political arenas. It has rightly been observed that ‘a degree of equality in social, political, economic and cultural rights is essential for rebuilding the trust between the state and society and among social groups. It has also been suggested that there is a correlation between more inclusive and open models of negotiations and a higher likelihood that the outcome agreements will hold and prevent a relapse into conflict.
Under the Constitution of Kenya 2010, the devolved system of governance was meant to, inter alia, promote democratic and accountable exercise of power, and foster national unity by recognizing diversity; give powers of self-governance to the people and enhance the participation of the people in the exercise of the powers of the State and in making decisions affecting them; recognize the right of communities to manage their own affairs and to further their development; facilitate the decentralisation of State organs, their functions and services, from the capital of Kenya, Nairobi; and enhance checks and balances and the separation of powers. While devolution has achieved commendable steps towards attaining equality and equity within the rural Kenya, the poverty levels and social, political and economic inequalities in the country are still high.
Rampant corruption and misallocation of political and economic resources in Kenya and especially at the county levels of governance may be some of the main factors that may be contributing to the slow pace of poverty alleviation despite the proximity of the rural areas to the devolved governance. There is need for stakeholders to go back to the drawing board on why devolution was introduced by the drafters of the Constitution while also ensuring that the national values and principles of governance are applied and upheld at both levels of governance, and these include: a) patriotism, national unity, sharing and devolution of power, the rule of law, democracy and participation of the people; (b) human dignity, equity, social justice, inclusiveness, equality, human rights, nondiscrimination and protection of the marginalized; (c) good governance, integrity, transparency and accountability; and (d) sustainable development.
Chapter six of the Constitution on leadership and integrity, Chapter Twelve on Public Finance, Values and principles of public service under Chapter Thirteen of the Constitution on Public service, Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012 should also be strictly enforced to ensure that there is real development at the grassroots in efforts to eradicate abject poverty. This will also potentially address the concerns on ethnic, nepotism and favouritism during employment of devolved governments’ staff.
Some commentators have also explored the role of culture in causing ethnic conflicts especially within the North-Western region of Kenya, where cattle rustling between the Nilotic communities is the main cause of conflicts. For instance, it has been argued that ‘cattle rustling is a cultural aspect of the Pokot founded on their myth of origin and a belief that all cattle belong to them’. While Article 11 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 recognises culture as the foundation of the nation and as the cumulative civilization of the Kenyan people and nation, the practice of such cultural activities should not violate constitutional provisions especially on the Bill of Rights.
Arguably, there is a need for the stakeholders in peacebuilding to address this notion through education as an empowerment tool for more people within the community (both formal and informal education) as well as creating opportunities for alternative sources of livelihoods for these communities to supplement their income and hence have a sense of security as far as their livelihoods are concerned. Notably, Peace Education Programme at primary and secondary schools’ levels of study was introduced in 2008 whose overall goal was to promote peaceful co-existence among members of the school community hence contributing to peace and national cohesion in the country; and enhance the capacity of the education sector to promote peaceful coexistence through conflict sensitive policies and programming.
The specific objectives of the programme include: To promote conflict sensitive policies and programmes within the education sector; to create awareness among learners on the causes of conflict and how to constructively resolve them in their daily lives; to prepare learners to become good citizens in their communities, nation and the world and to equip them with skills that promote peace and human dignity at all levels of interaction; to use the classroom as a springboard through which global values of positive inter-dependence, social justice and participation in decision-making are learned and practiced; and to foster positive images that lead to respect for diversity to enable young people learn to live peacefully in diverse communities in the world. This may be a good step towards restoring and achieving lasting and sustainable peace and cohesion among the warring communities and the country in general.
*This article is an extract from the Article “Towards Effective Peacebuilding and Conflict Management in Kenya” by Dr. Kariuki Muigua, PhD, Kenya’s ADR Practitioner of the Year 2021 (Nairobi Legal Awards), ADR Publisher of the Year 2021 and ADR Lifetime Achievement Award 2021 (CIArb Kenya). Dr. Kariuki Muigua is a foremost Environmental Law and Natural Resources Lawyer and Scholar, Sustainable Development Advocate and Conflict Management Expert in Kenya. Dr. Kariuki Muigua is a Senior Lecturer of Environmental Law and Dispute resolution at the University of Nairobi School of Law and The Center for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law and Policy (CASELAP). He has published numerous books and articles on Environmental Law, Environmental Justice Conflict Management, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Sustainable Development. Dr. Muigua is also a Chartered Arbitrator, an Accredited Mediator, the Africa Trustee of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators and the Managing Partner of Kariuki Muigua & Co. Advocates. Dr. Muigua is recognized among the top 5 leading lawyers and dispute resolution experts in Kenya by the Chambers Global Guide 2022.
References
Muigua, K., “Towards Effective Peacebuilding and Conflict Management in Kenya,” Available at: http://kmco.co.ke/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Towards-Peacebuilding-and-Conflict-Management-in-Kenya.docx-Kariuiki-Muigua-MAY-2021x.pdf (accessed 22 April 2022).