The Participation of Women in Peace Building Efforts Arising From Conflicts in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya, 1991-2016

Abstract

Refugee women’s contribution towards the realization of peace is undeniably critical and visible, yet they continue to face obstacles that inhibit their full participation in the existing peacebuilding structures and initiatives in Kakuma Refugee Camp. While numerous studies examine various factors preventing women from participating in peace processes in refugee camp set-up, foundational patriarchal structure and norms remains an important element to this study. The feminization and masculinization discourse that defines men as soldiers and protectors and women as victims needing protection, significantly influences the conceptualization of this study. Kakuma Refugee Camp represents a post conflict context where changes in gender roles are exhibited. Such changes compel women to assume more roles including those considered masculine and a preserve of men, such as protectors and heads of households. This, compounded with the fact that organizations working in the Camp develop empowerment programs focused on women to support them execute their new found roles, causes the men to feel left out, disempowered, even emasculated. Therefore, in a bid to reclaim and retain their domain of power and control over women, men employ strategies that inhibit women’s involvement in the peacebuilding system and initiative in Kakuma. Employing the hegemonic masculinity theories, this study reveals that indeed men employ various direct and indirect strategies aimed at curtailing women’s participation in peace building structures and initiatives in the camp. This study employed a qualitative survey methodology. Literature reviews and interviews with members of camp leadership and community peacebuilding structures as well as key peace actors, use of case studies and participatory observation, confirmed that indeed women make valuable contributions to the peacebuilding system and activities in Kakuma Camp. Yet, they continue to face substantive impediments that cause some of them to disengage from peace building platforms. Those women who proceed to participate in the peace processes are excluded from the critical stages of peace negotiation and settlement. Whereas knowledge concerning the multifaceted factors that cause the exclusion of women in peace building processes remains anecdotal, these findings forms a critical addition to the evolving literature on women, patriarchy and peacebuilding discourse aimed at increasing their meaningful engagement.