Rongai District is a populated area with many Kenyan tribes calling it home. There has been chronic insecurity and conflict in the area ranging from politically instigated ethnic violence and land conflicts to natural resource-based conflicts and hostility fuelled by an International Criminal Court process and the coming general elections.

There has been chronic insecurity and conflict in the area ranging from politically instigated ethnic violence and land conflicts to natural resource-based conflicts and hostility fueled by an International Criminal Court process and the coming general elections.

With signs of growing tension that include sarcastic humor, excuses for gossip, communication breakdowns, and disruptions, Anglican Development Services Nakuru—World Renew Kenya’s new research and development partner—organized a training in conflict mitigation with local leaders from each tribe in the Rongai District, and followed it up with a conflict assessment. The training was conducted by World Renew staff. One of the training participants was a local chief. After doing the training and seeing the conflict mitigation tools in action, he remarked how useful they were.
 
A month later, the chief was able to put his new skills and resources into practice. Things escalated when one community attempted to conduct a burial on contested land. Members of the community were attacked and forced to retreat. A number of people were injured. While that community was planning revenge, the chief was able to intervene. Using the tools he had learned, he facilitated a community conversation that led to a decision to take the matter to the courts rather than seek revenge. The chief was able to facilitate the discussion even though he himself came from the other community.
 
Four months later, I returned to Rongai with Nakuru staff to visit the participants and hear from them whether they were using the tools and finding them beneficial in managing tension and conflict in their personal lives and in their community. We sat in a circle, and the chief facilitated the conversation. One by one, the community members and Nakuru staff shared how they used the tools.
“I determined that before I go out and teach others, I should practice it myself. Do I have democracy in my home?”
A pastor said that the tools helped him in his own house and in relating with neighbors. He said, “I determined that before I go out and teach others, I should practice it myself. Do I have democracy in my home?” He became more aware that a suffering person is on the same level as him and that he is not above others. Another leader said, “I was in a meeting with all the leaders in the district and remembered the tools I learned. I did a check-in and told the group about the ‘hill’ (the iceberg) to help unconscious people to be more conscious. The check-in gives people the freedom to speak.”
 
A youth leader said that he is now not afraid to talk in general meetings. Before he was afraid, especially in a crowd. He said, “Now we listen better to each other and to visitors. We all get to speak.” The Assistant Chief mentioned that this area is a hot spot, and it is difficult to administrate. The tools help him solve disputes in the shortest time possible. A new community leader was asked to lead a very tough group of people. He asked himself, “How can I lead them?” He used the “soft shoe shuffle” method to resolve issues with a shopkeeper when a man and woman do not agree. He solved another issue with a neighbor who wanted to kill an animal. The young leader said that the tools helped him to uncover deeper issues.
 
By the end of our follow-up meeting, there was a feeling of deep connection and celebration about progress that had been made. There was also a sense that more needed to be done. We talked about meeting regularly as a group with the chief to practice the skills with the support of trained Nakuru staff. We also discussed supporting community leaders when they face situations beyond their skill by arranging for Nakuru staff to provide phone coaching, with World Renew Kenya staff as back-up support.
 
With the coming election and the appearance of a new camp in the area for Internally Displaced People (IDP’s), our partner sees tensions rising and anticipates there will be a need to be ready to provide timely interventions, not only in this area but across Central Rift Valley as well. Currently, Nakuru staff are monitoring ten hot spots across their region. Daily practice will make a critical difference to peace in the area.
 
 
Thanks:
  • New funding for our partners in food security and emergency response.
  • Promising development results in the communities where we support our partners.
 
Prayer Requests:
  • For peace to prevail as tensions rise leading up to Kenya’s national and county elections.
  • For disaster preparedness of World Renew and its partners in case there is a repeat of the post-election violence in 2008.
     

Peace unto you, 

Fred Witteveen

Country Consulant
World Renew Kenya