We are undertaking an educational and community development project in Korogocho through Community based organizations which are implementing the programme. It has been strategically chosen to achieve this through music, drama, film and theatre.
This is done through:
Peace Education through
School peace clubs
Youth and Children peace clubs
Replication of Sports and fun
Peer education
Values, Attitude and Behavior Change
Conflict analysis
Non-Violent conflict transformation
Peace Building
Research, lobbying and advocacy
Institutional Development of SOPA International
Resource Mobilization
Counseling and Trauma Healing
Enhanced peaceful coexistence among the different ethnic communities in Kenya
Ensure reduction of post election and political violent conflict to pave way for dialogue and peaceful settlement of political issues.
Develop conflict analysis to inform conflict resolution and peace building and share output with relevant actors.
Target Group
The project targets youths in Eastlands in Nairobi specifically in Korogocho, Babadogo, Dandora and Lucky Summer in Kasarani division.
Planned key activities
Youth mobilization and organization process
Active Non violence Peace and conflict transformation training
Relief and Rehabilitation
Monitoring and documentation of violent conflicts in the areas for advocacy
Conducting Monthly reconciliation meetings
Monitoring and evaluation
Actual activities carried out
Establishment of Community Policing in Lucky Summer
Conducting 3 Reconciliation meetings
Establishment of 5 School Peace Clubs
Establishment of Community Policing in Lucky Summer and Reconciliation meetings
Community policing was the first activity done to enhance community safety during the post election violence. This activity was started in Lucky Summer with an aim or replicating it in other target areas. This was necessary because, in the first one month of the project implementation, Korogocho and babadogo areas were no go zones. To enhance community policing and initiate some reconciliation meetings an office space which included meeting hall was hired to provide space for community leaders to meet and find means of seeking dialogue.
SOPA facilitated the organization of Lucky Summer community to come up with appropriate structure and leadership to engage the community in safety measures and initiate interethnic dialogue. Lucky Summer Community Policing Committee was then established and overseen by the Area chief and Ruaraka Police Station. This center became a referral for Ruaraka police who referred several conflict issues to be resolved by the committee. This center also became the avenue where community members brought all conflict issues and even threats of violence.
Community Policing Training
Community policing training was organized and brought participants from Lucky Summer, Babadogo, Korogocho and from Mathare. This training was timely as it helped the communities to understand the concept of community policing to establish inclusive structures and enhance participation of the community.
Interethnic Reconciliation Meetings
Three Interethnic Reconciliation meetings were held. Two of the meetings targeted different ethnic communities, community leaders, religious leaders, business community, political leaders and the youths of Kasarani constituency. One meeting was held in Lucky Summer and officiated by the area chief. Another meeting was held in Babadogo. A third meeting was conducted for the youths and brought other stake holders on board; Peace Net and Global with Hope.
School peace clubs were established in 5 schools. Some of the activities carried by school peace clubs started include sporting for peace, developing peace songs and skits. The peace clubs were engaged through peace songs and drama and participated in the reconciliation meetings and played a key role in calling upon the community particularly the youths to embrace peace and dialogue.
Relief
This activity was not carried out as planned in the proposal as SOPA chose to engage in preventive measures through Community Policing. Two extreme cases were however
Tobias Omondi lost all his business and was being evacuated from his rental house for defaulting paying of rent. He was helped to clear his arrears.
Mrs. Rose, a single mother of six who lost her shop to looters, was also being evacuated from her house and the shop due to rent arrears, SOPA supported her to restart her business and support her children.
Impact Realized
Through the intervention Lucky Summer community which was under threat was not attacked. After the looting which took place on the first day of the Post election violence, the community attempted to dialogue and engaged the youths to stop looting.
Lucky Summer was the first place to experience some peace and this was eventually experienced in Babadogo and Korogocho particularly after the reconciliation meetings.
The community policing committee saved Lucky Summer from the rowdy youths who had taken over Lucky Summer at ransom. This rowdy group which camouflaged as protecting the community from Mungiki (a dreaded sect) demanded exorbitant pay from the community and could rein terror on members of the community who disobeyed them at will.
The community Policing Committee has become stronger and is currently engaging in development activities. The group is looking forward to accessing Constituency Development Fund to participate in development of the area. The success of the community policing was replicated in Babadogo and got high level recognition by the area Member of Parliament and the Police
Lessons learned
The tragic events which were witnessed in Kenya following the disputed December 2007 elections are pointer to the following.
Urban areas are and will increasingly become the sites of violent conflicts, the urban poor will the main victims.
In a situation of increasing inequality, poverty and deprivation are combining with political and ethnic differences and thus threatening to tear communities apart. The urban areas are becoming the preferred battlefields for brute gangs and criminals.
Young and employed slum-dwellers stand the highest risk of getting recruited into murderous gangs that hold allegiance to extreme but amorphous ideologies, principles and principals.
Young people from urban slums continue to play a role in perpetuating the “communal riot” that leaves trails of destruction to people, property and the youth’s own lives.
Apart from the above activities in Korogocho, SOPA has also set up a mobile education facilitation unit in Lokichoggio to promote peace education to the pastoralists.
Seeds Of Peace Africa (SOPA) International Location: Lenana Road - North Star Building Adress:P O Box 53958 Nairobi, Kenya Email: info@seedsofpeaceafrica.com Tel: +254(0)20 3864161/2 Fax: 3864162
