| dc.description.abstract | During the 2007-2008 clashes the perception of women as the victims obscured their role as
peacemakers in the reconstruction and peace-building processes. However, grassroots women
and women’s organizations initiated dialogue and reconciliation within their villages and
communities. The objective of the study was to examine the extent to which women have
contributed to the peace building and reconciliation process in Kenya, focusing on the 2007-2008
post election violence. Primary data obtained from peace volunteers affiliated to various NGOs
in Nakuru County. These site visits were carried out as follows: meetings with key informant
NGO leaders, peace volunteers and government representatives and analysis and validation of
findings with research assistant. Instrumentation included use of interviews including key
informant interviews, in-depth interviews and focused group discussions (FGD) with the
intention of eliciting information and opinions. The data collected was analyzed mainly
qualitatively. Discourse analysis was used to analyze written, spoken or sign language. The
objects of discourse analysis are variously defined in terms of coherent sequences of sentences,
speeches, intonations and repetitions. The findings demonstrate that women have played a
central role in the peace building process in Nakuru County despite being marginalized from the
structural design of peace building. Women responded to this marginalization by initiating
unique peacebuilding mechanisms and making space for themselves during the process of
reconstruction. In doing so, they contributed to the overall process of peace building in Nakuru
County. In addition, women worked to make known their needs and concerns regarding security,
governance, relief and development and reconciliation in Nakuru County. Also, women were
active in each of the four peace building areas explored in this study, focusing their efforts on
identifying, responding to, and fostering awareness of women’s unique needs and concerns
during the post-election violence. Governance and judicial reforms recommend increased
gender-awareness, support for women’s participation, and the inclusion of women in all levels of
policy and decision-making. Reforms also call for changes that will affect women in particular,
that will maximize women’s individual and collective ability to contribute to relief delivery as
well as social and economic development post-conflict. Individuals must feel that they can safely
step forward to make known human rights infractions, and be protected from reprisal. | en |
