CONCERNED YOUTH FOR PEACE (CYP)

PEACE WALK ACTIVITY REPORTHELD ON

SAT 08TH MARCH 2008

FROM

DANDORA PHASE THREE(TOM MBOYA PRIMARY SCHOOL)

TO

HURUMA(MASINDE MULIRO GROUNDS / NCCK HALL)

NAIROBI - KENYA

March 10th 2008

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CONCERNED YOUTH FOR PEACE (CYP)

PEACE WALK ACTIVITY REPORT

HELD ON

SAT 08TH MARCH 2008

FROM

DANDORA PHASE THREE(TOM MBOYA PRIMARY SCHOOL)

TO

HURUMA(MASINDE MULIRO GROUNDS / NCCK HALL)

NAIROBI - KENYA

Prepared and compiled by CYP joint secretaries: Doreen Olembo ……………………..

Rahab Mukuhi ……………………..

Confirmed and adopted by the Concerned Youth for Peace Secretariat and signed on behalf by:

……………………….. ………………………Mercy Gichangi Alice KamauChairperson Treasurer

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Acknowledgement

We, the Organizers of Dandora - Huruma Peace Walk, wish to convey heartfelt appreciation to Peace and Development Network (PEACENET) through their Electoral Violence Response Initiative (EVRI) that took a leading role in Capacity building and fundraising to the implementing organizations and became a source of inspiration as we went about the planning stages and the Youth Initiatives – Kenya (YIKE) for playing the part of lead organization.

We appreciate the Concerned Citizens for Peace (CCP) under the stewardship of the very able Dekha Ibrahim, Ambassador Bethwel Kiplagat, General (retired) Daniel Opande, General (retired) Lazarus Sumbeiywo and Dr. George Wachira, that sired and nurtured us.

We do thank the Provincial administration and the Kenya Police for allowing the peace walk and especially the Dandora OCS (Officer Commanding Station) Inspector Samson Ogero, who accompanied us on most part of the walk.

We appreciate the contribution by the managements of Tom Mboya Primary School - Dandora, Feed The Children – Dandora, Masinde Muliro Grounds - Huruma and the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) - Huruma where the walk began, stopped over and ended respectively.

We highly value the participation of the various organizations, Balozi wa Amani Initiative, Community Transformers, Feed the Children, La “Vie” Foundation, among others, for rallying their members in big numbers to join the walk.

Further gratitude goes to the facilitators, Trauma Counsellor Auxillia Nyamoma, Mr. Morrison Mwadulo of Makutano Junction theatre group and Patrick Shonda the technician for taking their time to offer valuable services at the function.

We congratulate every member of the CYP secretariat, Mercy Gichangi, Doreen Olembo, Rahab Mukuhi, Diana Kamau, Winnie Wangare, Berryl Williams and Tom Oketch, for their tireless work round the clock in making the activity a success.

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Introduction

Kenyans went to the General Elections on 27th December 2008 all hopeful of a better governed Kenya. But there was an acute turn of events on 30th December 2008 when the Electoral Commission of Kenya announced the final Presidential results that gave the incumbent President Kibaki a new term in office. Several parts of the country experienced intense violence that has never been visited in Kenyan history.

As a result of the disputed presidential poll, the evidence of the crisis is clear to all: About 1,000 Kenyan’s are dead, perhaps many more unknown; Over 350,000 Kenyan’s, mainly women and children, were forced to flee their homes and for

close to two months, lived in squalid conditions at IDP Camps; While a substantial number of them have been absorbed in communities under various arrangements, many of them are still stranded at various IDP camps, many camps not recognized by the government – therefore not receiving any services;

People’s, very many of them extremely poor, life-work and livelihoods have been destroyed; Business suffered greatly with dire consequences on economic performance.

The violence has since subsided in most parts of the country but the tension and mistrust persists, the crisis triggered by the disputed presidential elections has brought to the fore underlying and long-standing divisions within the Kenyan society, if left unaddressed, these divisions threaten the very existence of Kenya as a unified country.

The Concerned Youth for Peace came up with a number of interventions to address the current situation and provide basis for the resolution of the long term issues.

Concerned Youth for Peace (CYP)

The Concerned Youth for Peace (CYP) is an offshoot of the Concerned Citizens for Peace (CCP). It was formed to address issues directly concerning the youth who, to a larger extent than any other class of Kenyans, actively participated in the skirmishes. CYP, like CCP, is a network of Youth organizations and organizations working with the youth towards Peace Building and Conflict Transformation and Resolution. It operates with a mandate from CCP.

Concerned Citizens for Peace (CCP)

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Members of the CYP Secretariat, from left squatting; Mercy Gichangi, Tom Oketch and Rahab Mukuhi. Standing from left; Fatuma

Njambi, Winnie Wangari, Doreen Olembo, Berryl Williams and Diana Kamau at the function.

The Concerned Citizens for Peace (CCP) came into being on January 1, 2008 after violence erupted in Kenya following claims of rigging and a flawed election process in the December 2007 general elections in the country. The original core members, who included Kenyan peace mediators and members of the civil society, namely Dekha Ibrahim, Ambassador Bethwel Kiplagat, General (retired) Daniel Opande, General (retired) Lazarus Sumbeiywo and Dr. George Wachira, started the group in order to rally for peace and tolerance and to call for dialogue after the country witnessed its worst post-election violence that led to political and ethnic killings and wanton destruction of property. The group works for a Kenya without violence and a Kenya that is not divided on political or tribal lines. At the height of violence, CCP held daily briefings at the Serena hotel that has earned the tag of ‘house of peace’ through hosting various peace initiatives including the Kofi Annan led mediation talks. The frequency of CCP meetings reduced with the achievement of some level of calm around the country and the need for members to have more time on the ground, that to date there are only single briefing meetings per week. CCP is a point of convergence where ideas are harvested and connections made for the sole purpose of addressing issues of peace, and by default development, at the immediate, medium and long term.

Objectives of the Peace Walk

To diffuse the tensions caused by the disputed presidential elections and the subsequent violence

To gather youths from different ethnic backgrounds for a peace march To pass a message to the residents of Dandora and Huruma that people of different ethnic

communities can work together for a peace course To equip participants with skills on peace building and conflict transformation and resolution To promote peaceful ways of addressing conflict in our society among the youth.

Rationale for the activity

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Leading marchers stop to wait for the slower participants at

Dandora phase 2

The effort to develop community harmony is influenced by the underlying tensions caused by the recent disputed presidential elections and the violence that was triggered by the same. Millions of Kenyans were affected either directly or remotely and the wounds created may not just be wished away. There is fundamental need for psycho-social healing and this may only be achieved when people open up and speak to each other, remove the psychological boundaries created and forgive one another. The peace walk was an opportunity for people from diverse backgrounds to interact with each other and ‘build bridges in the places of walls.’

Methodology

The organizers held 8 planning meetings and toured the walk route ahead of the activity. The team assigned duties to every member that saw the various agenda items successfully delivered upon. The agenda items were such as Securing venues, Alerting the police and the provincial administration for security, Printing T-shirts, Acquiring mobile public address system, Identifying mobilizers and relevant facilitators, Following up on funds, Making peace ribbons, Accessing video shooting apparatus and Purchases.

Various Youth Organizations and organizations working with the youth were identified and invited for the activity. Most of the organizations were those that operate in the Dandora – Huruma region but even those that operate from far off volunteered to bring their members at their own cost since there was no provision for transportation of the participants.

The walk route was a 5 kilometer stretch from Tom Mboya primary school in Dandora phase three to NCCK hall in Huruma with brief stop overs at Feed the Children office at Dandora phase 1 for group photos and the Masinde Muliro open grounds in Huruma for games. A mobile public address accompanied the marchers throughout the stretch blaring peace messages and music that attracted hundreds of people along the march route.

At the NCCK hall, there was music, speeches, counseling and filming of a script from the ‘Makutano junction’ series. It was encouraging that one of the actors featured, a Mr. Mwadulo, was in attendance and gave a brief about the script that touched on political and ethnic chauvinism and violence. About 500 people participated in the activity including the Dandora Officer Commanding Station (OCS).

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Group photo at FTC stop over with the Dandora OCS, Inspector

Ogero squatting left (Walkie talkie in hand)

Activity Budget

ITEM PROPOSED BUDGET

ACTUAL EXPENDITURE AMOUNT PAID BALANCE ACCUMULATIVE TOTAL

Transport 10,000 Organizers – 6 x 8dys x 250 - 12,000Equipment - 2,900Facilitators (3) – 3,000

12,0002,9003,000

NilNilNil

12,00014,90017,900

PublicityT-Shirts & Banner

50,000 T-Shirts – 27,000Banner – 10,000Ribbons – 1,045

18,00010,0001,045

9,000NilNil

44,90054,90055,945

Mobilization 20,000 P.A. System – 3,000Taxi – 1,500 x 2 dys – 3,000 DJ – 500 x 2 dys – 1,000Venue – 3,000Huruma mobilizers (2) – 2,000Dandora mobilizers (2)– 2,000

3,0003,0001,0003,0001,0001,000

NilNilNilNil

1,0001,000

58,94561,94562,94565,94567,94569,945

Refreshments 20,000 Water – 11,802Lunch for 6 x 8 dys @ 250 – 12,000

11,80212,000

NilNil

81,74793,747

Communication ---- Video (Shooting & editing) – 5,000Still photos - 2,500Phone credit – 4,000Internet – 1,500TV Hire – 500Stationery – 2,753

3,0001,5003,0001,500

5002,753

2,0001,0001,000

NilNilNil

98,747101,247105,247106,747107,247110,000

Total 110,000 95,000 15,000 110,000

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Key findings from the activity

The participants agreed on the following as the way forward: -

That: There is need for more forums of interaction to preach peace to residents Leaders be pressed upon to preach peace and tell the truth Boundaries, whether psychological or physical, put between tribes be removed People should pray in truth and honesty The youth should keep busy always The negotiating principals, Kibaki and Raila, be allowed time to sort the political mess The youth should not allow politicians to buy them for ulterior motives. Violence be stopped and peace promoted All should reflect on the damages caused by violence and forgive one another People should not dwell on tribal issues all the time The participants ready to involve in peace building in other places

A section of the participants during discussions at NCCK –

Huruma hall.

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Constraints, challenges and risks

The following challenges that are likely to affect the desired achievements were identified during the exercise

There was an element of apathy among some participants arising out of fears that CYP may be a government project aimed at duping the youth to keep peace then be abandoned without benefiting from the national agreements.

Some of the groups, though ready and willing to participate in peace building, may not be able to raise the funds required for incidental costs.

The mood on the ground has a direct relationship to top political machinations and the realized calm and peace could disintegrate if the agreements at the top are not realized.

Many that participated in the peace walk felt that there could have been more than just a walk, may be some material assistance.

Delay in the disbursement of funds.

Conclusion

The impact of the walk may be minimal considering the number that attended against the overall population of Dandora and Huruma. But is a step in the right direction as together we can build lasting peace and pre-empt conflict. Several such activities and reconstruction efforts need to be undertaken for sustainable peace to be achieved.

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