CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR PEACE – CCP Report March 08

CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR PEACE

http://forums.rescuekenya.org/ccp/

Giving a voice to Kenyan citizens to engage and contribute in the creation of peace and hope

CCP REPORT

INTRODUCTION

Following the announcement of the disputed presidential elections and the subsequent violence, there emerged an urgent need to initiate a process that would have national appeal for calm as solutions were being sought. The Concerned Citizens for Peace (CCP) led by renowned mediators, peace builders and diplomats, was formally launched on 1^st January 2008. It immediately emerged as a crucial vehicle for rallying Kenyans around the call for peace and dialogue. The initial step was to call upon Kenyans through the media to shun violence, and stop the killings and wanton destruction of property. CCP at the same time began making contacts with the leadership of the leading political parties, as well as encouraging international solidarity and support. As other initiatives emerged (the humanitarian response, religious leaders, civil society-led efforts and the national dialogue process, etc), the role of CCP in bridging the gap between these initiatives became important. CCP’s key initiatives can be grouped as follows:

1. Supporting high-level political dialogue
2. Creating public awareness by spreading positive messages to dissuade people from engaging in violence and retaliation
3. Advocating peace through the mass media
4. Encouraging dialogue at the grassroots level
5. Linking civil society initiatives with the national dialogue and reconciliation process

These initiatives can further be categorized as Upstream, Middle level and Downstream activities.

UP STREAM – supporting the top level mediation and dialogue process.

KENYA: Reconciliation key to returns

KENYA: Reconciliation key to returns

15 Apr 2008 14:07:54 GMT

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Source: IRIN

Reuters and AlertNet are not responsible for the content of this article or for any external internet sites. The views expressed are the author’s alone.

NAIROBI, 15 April 2008 (IRIN) – Peace-building and reconciliation efforts to alleviate ethnic tension must be stepped up before internally displaced Kenyans are pushed to return to their homes or the risk of further violence will remain high, according to the UN and agencies.

“Ethnic tension remains high – hate, resentment and mistrust are widespread and people have few avenues to vent their feelings,” Bernard Leflaive, early recovery and food security cluster coordinator and consultant to the UN Development Programme (UNDP), told IRIN. “The big precondition for return must be that people are able to live in security wherever they choose to go, and they should be able to form normal relationships with their neighbours.”

The early recovery and food security cluster – comprising UN bodies, NGOs and government departments – aims to assist the government to ensure that communities affected by Kenya’s post-election violence return to a state of normalcy as early as possible. The cluster deals with, among other issues, peace and reconciliation, governance and rule of law and the restoration of livelihoods.

IDPs in Kenya hesitant to return home despite relative calm

Source: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

Date: 16 Apr 2008

CHOGOCHO, Kenya, April 16 (UNHCR) – Thousands of internally displaced people (IDP) in Kenya are still hesitant to go home despite the return of peace to parts of the country affected by post-election violence at the start of the year.

Most of the IDPs, especially in western Kenya’s Rift Valley Province, fear they will be attacked if they return home. Some of the men go back to villages like Chogocho during the day to tend to their crops before seeking shelter with friends or relatives at night in towns like Elburgon, located eight kilometres away.