Friends in Kenya are calling on the U.S. government to take early action to prevent violence in Kenya’s upcoming presidential elections.
Kenya is planning to hold presidential elections on August 8, 2017, and Kenyan peacebuilders are actively working to prevent the outbreak of violence that has plagued Kenyan elections in the past.
In 2007, mass violence broke out in Kenya following a divisive presidential campaign and elections. Amid accusations of vote-rigging, long simmering ethnic and tribal strife broke out into violence spurred by opposition parties. The violence claimed 1,300 lives, and 600,000 people were displaced from their homes. In the aftermath of this violence, Kenyan civil society organizations, including the Friends church in Kenya, took action to provide humanitarian assistance and build peace and reconciliation to those who were affected by the violence.
Their work to create an early warning and early response system helped to ensure that the presidential elections in 2013 were largely peaceful without the outbreak of mass violence. As Kenyans are once again preparing to go to the polls to elect their next president, many are again worried that unaddressed tensions could boil over into violence.
Friends Church Peace Teams (FCPT), in coordination with Transforming Communities for Social Change (TCSC), is working in Western Kenya to ensure that the upcoming elections remain peaceful. Getry Agizah, coordinator of FCPT and TCSC, visited Washington and urged U.S. policymakers to support a fair and peaceful elections process in Kenya.
Recommendations to the U.S. Government:
Political candidates in Kenya should understand that the world is watching. The United States should communicate, both privately and through public messages, that Washington is paying attention to electoral dynamics in Kenya. Encourage candidates to fully uphold Article 6 of the Constitution on “Leadership and Integrity.” If Kenyan officials understand that U.S. relations with the country are conditioned on protecting human rights and promoting peace throughout the electoral process, then officials will create a more peaceful environment.
Be present before, during and after the elections end. Violence prevention efforts should begin long before Election Day and continue at least three months after elections take place. While Election Day itself may be peaceful, the outbreak of mass violence often occurs in the post-election period. The United States should stay engaged well after Election Day in order to prevent the outbreak of violence.
Pay attention to local dynamics. While the potential for mass violence can be triggered by national political dynamics, local, tribal, and county dynamics are what sustain and keep the violence going. Addressing grievances and taking early action at the local level can go a long way towards preventing violence.
