An open statement by the Kenyan Civil Society Organisations working on peace and conflict resolution
To: The Chairman,
National Reconciliation and Dialogue Committee
Dated Tuesday, March, 11th 2008
REFLECTIONS ON CONFLICT SENSITIVE RECOVERY, RECONSTRUCTION AND RESETTLEMENT
INTRODUCTION
We, the community of Civil Society Organizations(CSOs) involved in peace building work throughout Kenya, coming together under the auspices of the Peace and Development Network (PeaceNet-Kenya), have decided to issue the following statement on the ongoing National Resettlement and
Dialogue processes.
Concerned about the wave of violence in Kenya since December 29th 2007, we teamed up to roll out a national assessment and response on the post election violence alongside several other intra-community dialogue interventions throughout the country under the Electoral Violence Response Initiative (EVRI. These interventions are geared towards preparing the communities for resettlement, recovery and reconciliation.
BACKGROUND
The National Reconciliation and Dialogue Committee that was formed after a successful national and international mediation has agreed on a number of resolutions to address the root-causes and the consequence of the 2007 post election crisis.
Kenya has gone through a traumatic experience characterised by the post electoral violence following the disputed 2007 presidential elections. The consequence of the violence has seen the loss of over 1000 lives, displacement of over three hundred thousand people and destruction of livelihoods of millions of Kenyans. Further consequences have been the growing tension in traditionally calm regions such as Central Kenya.
The challenge now is on the implementation of these resolutions and others that will follow in a conflict sensitive perspective. Continue reading
