Kenya Gears for National Peace Conference on Elections

In an effort to mitigate the effects of the 2007/8 Post Election Violence that left more than 1000 people dead, more than 500,000 displaced and property worth millions of shillings destroyed, the Kenya government through the Ministry of Justice has since the beginning of this year rolled out an initiate to promote peaceful elections.

The initiative is being spearheaded by the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs in partnership with other players. So far, peace forums have been organized in all the 47 counties of the country. The county peace forum were held on August 13-14, 2012 across the country. hundreds of delegated from the countries are expected to converge in Nairobi from August 26-28, 2012 for a national conference on peaceful elections.

A Section of participants during the Migori County Forum

Before the county forums, the Ministry of Justice and its partners in the process had met other stakeholders including the private sector, the media, political parties and members of parliament, among others,  to secure their buy in and support for a peaceful elections.

The government move comes against a backdrop of many other peace and conflict mitigation initiatives that have been going on since the post election period led by different stakeholders, largely within the civil society.

The country has however continued to experience challenges despite all the peace efforts. Political and ethnic rivalry ahead of the elections, lack of sufficient good will within government to address concerns raised around the post election period and in the Peace Accord that ended the violence. the envisaged reforms have not been conclusively addressed, which include constitutional and institutional reforms, historical injusticesm resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons among others.

A new constitution was voted for at a referendum and promulgated on August 2010 but resistance to its implementation is evident in a number of key government structures within the political class. Parliament and the cabinet have variously either allowed weak and faulty Bills to pass into la or changed progressive parts to pass non effective laws.

A section of delegates at the Migori Forum during group work

The cherished Devolution framework is being actively fought within the government with a cadre of those keen on retaining a centralized control systematically working to weaken the devolved government structure.

As a build up to the national peace process, each county has passed declarations of intention and commitment to promote peaceful elections and national cohesion.

Migori County passed one such declaration which we publish here under: 


                          Migori County Forum on Peaceful Elections

August 13-14, 2012

County Forum Resolutions

We, the delegates and leaders drawn from diverse sectors and all the constituencies of Migori County on behalf of all the residents of Migori County, having deliberated on the need for peaceful elections for two days from August 13-14, 2012, commit ourselves to:

·        Promote and foster a culture of peace before, during and after the elections

·        Recognize and celebrate the diversity in the county through the recognition of all the existing ethnic, racial and  other groups living in Migori County and promote a culture of tolerance 

·        Use dialogue and consultations to resolve any issues that may cause conflict among the people/residents of Migori County along ethnic, religious, colour, race, sex or on any other ground  

·        Resist attempts by individuals, groups or other divisive forces that may want to cause conflict based on  ethnicity, gender, religion, race, clan or any other ground before, during and after the forthcoming elections;

·        Mobilize and encourage all residents of Migori County to register as voters and to turn out to vote in large numbers in the forth coming general elections;

·        Mobilize resources and seek collaborations and partnerships with local, national and international organizations to conduct intensive  general civic education and more specifically, voter education to enhance citizens effective participation in public affairs and in the choice of their leaders  

·        Create Constituency peace Structures/Committees to deepen dialogue ahead of the forthcoming general elections as part of the dissemination of the outcomes of the County Forum on peace.

·         Establish Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms both at the County level and at the constituencies whose mandate should be to prevent and rapidly respond to any cases of emerging conflicts

·        Establish a Migori County “Council of Elders” as part of the conflict resolution mechanism and peace building.

·        Promote gender mainstreaming in all our public engagements and institutions and in the elective positions to progressively attain gender parity before, during and after the general elections as part of measures to build a cohesive, peaceful and prosperous county.

·        Work with the government and other players towards resolving the outstanding issues on the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the returnees, including issues of compensation and resettlement before the General Elections. 

·        Promote inclusiveness through meaningful participation and involvement of the youth,   persons with disabilities, ethnic and other minorities within the county.

Students from a secondary school in Migori perform a skit on peace during the forum