| dc.description.abstract | Third party interventions in peace negotiations are as ancient as the peace making itself. In every peace making process, there has been the involvement of third parties with some playing crucial roles towards the success of such process, while others become mere spoilers. Kenya experienced civil strife situation in the aftermath of 200) elections, where disputed presidential election results brought about unprecedented violence occasioning death of over a thousand people and displacement of hundreds of thousands of others.
This prompted the international community, regional community and local actors to intervene with a view to finding a solution to bring the two warring parties - Party of National Unity (PNU) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to the negotiating table, to stop the senseless killing and wanton destruction of property.
The manner in which the third parties carried themselves was exceptional, unique and exemplary culminating in a peace deal in less than two months. It is this behaviour of third parties that made me to carry out this study. Apart from AU's Panel of Eminent African Personalities who brokered the peace deal, there were other third parties who played a part towards the signing of the National Accord by President Mwai Kibaki and ODM leader Raila Odinga on February 28, 2008. The main third parties identified included the US, UK, UN, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, the civil society, faith-based organizations and many others.
The purpose of this study is to show that peace was realized in Kenya after the intervention by the third parties. The study argues that, although the third parties were driven by their own national interests, the need to return Kenya to normalcy was eminent. With unstable country, these interests were at stake, and so the frantic efforts were employed by the third parties to salvage the threatened interests. This exercise saved Kenya from the political stalemate. This study outlines each third parties; contribution toward the success of the peace process. It also presents a pattern of convergence of interest among the third parties which led to a successful peace negotiation culminating i the signing of a workable peace deal (the National Accord and Reconciliation Act, 2008). | en_US |
