When violence broke out following disputed general elections 0f 2007 in
Kenya, most neighboring communities in Kenya were caught up the
conflicts. Much is shared by the communities, like markets, water
sources and schools and the population has always involved two or three
communities in a certain geographical area, of which groups supported
different candidates in the elections. X people were killed and many
women were raped. Many properties, including schools and businesses,
were burned down, cattle were stolen and farming came largely to a
standstill because people were afraid of being attacked if they went out
into the fields. However, most of the direct violence ceased but
continued mistrust and tension was self evident: blocades had been put
in place across roads preventing free movement of people among
villages, women had to get escorted by groups of youth for them to fetch
water and wood from previously shared common water points and at the
market, members from individual community kept separate selling points
dealing only with their own community members, while as small business
owners had to close their places if they operated in foreign land to
their own context.However, peace taken into a new look and rebuilt through a community led processes of dialogue which some peace agreements put in place supported. At a time when people felt confined by political forces beyond their control, some key community egocentric leaders wanted to find a way for the people to take their lives in their own hands. The National Accord (peace agreement) introduced a methodology called the 'Community Social Peace and Recovery' model to reconcile people.There are three parts to the methodology: dialogue process agreement of a 'social contract' which is a community level peace accord peace and recovery projects jointly designed and implemented by the communities to cement the accord.Ahead of the dialogue itself, a teams of 'peace agents' were involved with their resolution skills.
When considerations were in place through the violence terrible ordeal, the focus turned to truth and reconciliation, seeking to acknowledge what had been done. Again, this was slow, and at times things seemed to go backward with event mistrust among the commissioners entrusted with the task. Eventually , the evidences shows that almost all Kenyans communities participated in their own ways to cause violence; elders instructed the youth to defend their respective communities; women hosted combatants , killings, rape and smuggling were self evident.
Who was to be blamed? The Kenyan communities themselves were responsible for the violence and destruction in their communities because they had allowed politicians to manipulate them and incite them into fighting against each other. Today they continue to pay dearly for
their participation in the clashes while the politicians have since moved on to focus on filling the pockets projects. For many participants, the most important message they took home was “never again to be used as the politicians’ battle field.”