What is Kenya, Who is Kenya? Community, Culture and Conflict.
First Kenyan Program on Pedagogies for Community | Kenya | August 2-15,
Call for Participants
For decades, Kenya has been plagued by post-election violence. These have only intensified since the 2002 elections, which marked the end of 24 year rule of President Moi, when the different communities in Kenya came together in the hopes of regime change. However, since then elections and the post-election periods have been characterized by acts of inter-communal violence, internal displacement, and mistrust between communities.
Most attempts to explain and ameliorate these outbreaks of violence have been predicated on a political understanding of the problem and the articulation of social tensions in terms of “tribalism.” Though “tribalism” is a colonial concept that carries with it the baggage of colonial domination and colonial thought, it does point us in the right direction.
For electoral violence stems not only from deeply entrenched political divisions but from deep ethnic tensions as well. Thus, while allegations of electoral manipulation and perceived unfairness in the electoral process were major triggers for the violence, the violence itself had underlying historical, economic, and social causes. Hence, their recurrence every five years. Addressing these fundamental issues is essential to constituting a shared civil life in Kenya.
In 2007, it became clear that whatever the political steps taken previously had in fact failed to produce the basis for a new nation. In 2007, Kofi Annan in his pursuit for a peaceful settlement emphasized the key political problem in Kenya was that of creating a nation out of diverse tribes.
We are left with this as our continuing challenge and with it the understanding that “tribalism” is less a political problem and more the problem of coexistence between different ways of life, thought, cultural mores, and meanings. Furthering this understanding will allow us to break both the impasse of a purely “political” solution to Kenya’s travails as well as the heavy colonial baggage adhering to the term.
The Kenyan Program on Pedagogies for Community to be held in August 2024 seeks to delve into the heart of Kenya’s intricate societal fabric by examining its communities, cultures, and recurring conflicts. This program aims to foster understanding and empathy among different communities and explore the underlying issues that give rise to the cyclic violence witnessed after elections. By approaching the conflicts from a different angle rather than solely political, we hope to lay the groundwork for sustainable coexistence and mutual learning among Kenya’s diverse groups. Kenya is a tapestry of many different communities and cultures, each with its unique customs, languages, and traditions. Understanding the complex dynamics of these communities will be crucial in addressing the root causes of conflict.
Dates: August 2, 2024 – August 15, 2024