Assessment of the Role of Ngo's in Resolving Ethnic Conflict: a Case Study of Kenya

Abstract

The study sought to investigate the steps being taken by NGOs to resolve conflict in Kenya, with a focus on evaluating the role of NGOs in resolving ethnic conflict, a case of Kenya. examine the efficacy of NGOs in conflict resolution in Kenya and identify impact of NGOs socially, politically and economically during conflict and after conflict resolution in Kenya. The study has noted that NGO has lobbied, supported, and advice the government to implement recommendations and provide the needed security from other mediating and peace-making forums and initiatives. The NGOs within the Kenya territory are known to play some preventive roles due to the advantages they tend to have, particularly when they are in contact with the grassroots movements and being familiar with the local conflicts. By gathering the different supplementary information, they also play some vital roles, especially in the areas where there is a lot of anxiety regarding human rights abuse. Through engaging in small-scale projects, strengthening the social and the social systems, they attempt to achieve their peace building roles and training the local leaders on how they could interact with other groups. According to the United Nations, this simply means that these NGOs are capable of supporting the communities by ensuring that there is the creation of some general conditions that will promote and develop peace building. The study established that in every ethnic conflict happening in Kenya, nongovernmental organizations have been actively involved in initiating peacemaking programs. The major non-governmental organizations, as they have been pointed out in this chapter, are; the Red Cross, the World Vision, the United Nations, and the Humanitarian groups. In 2007 post-election violence, the African Union represented by Kofi Annan played a vital role in restoring Peace among Kenya's ethnic communities. The Red Cross has currently been offering immediate responses to the victims of ethnic differences. In the conflicts happening in Laikipia, the World Vision creates awareness to the ethnic communities about the importance of peace and stability in a country. For that matter, it can be concluded that non-governmental organizations have effectively mitigated ethnic conflicts in Kenya. The study found that NGOs play critical roles during conflict and after conflict resolution. They are mostly known for initiating peacemaking programs to strengthen any country's political, social, and economic activities. The United Nations is the major non-governmental organization that intervenes during conflict and after the conflicts. The NGOs peace-making programs affect social activities such as; healthcare, school, sports, and family settings, among others. They also affect political activities such as; leadership, law/policymaking, and corruption. Finally, it affects economic activities such as; trading, gross domestic production, and taxation. The study recommends inclusion of NGOs in all steps of conflict resolution this is because the study has found NGOs to be effective in resolving conflict. The study also recommends that Independent institutions must be strengthened to the point where influential persons, political parties, the presidency, and the legislature cannot interfere with their mandate. Only by establishing a more inclusive and representative system—along with democratic political socialization—can Kenya's toxic mixture of poorly managed ethnic variety be avoided.