From a Perpetrator of Conflict to Peacemaker: the Transformation of Salome Matakwei of Mt Elgon (2006-2017)

Abstract

Despite the fact that citizens suffer the impact of conflict, women among the population are specifically affected most. In most cases, their bodies become the new theater of war as rape is employed as a tool of war. In some instances, women play ultimate responsibilities as the culprits of conflict through conveying information to fighters, cooking and hiding fighters as well as inciting men to fight. However, as customarily defined caregivers, they have the capacity to transform society into a desirable environment. Comparatively they play flagrant roles in begetting peace in post-conflict societies. This is similar to Salome Matakwei who represents women in Mt Elgon as a symbol of resilience in a patriarchal society for playing the role in the conflict of Mt Elgon as a culprit, a victim, and a peace maker. Reference to Salome Matakwei in Mt Elgon between the period of 2006 and 2017, the study sought to scrutinize the transformation she underwent as perpetrator of the conflict to peace maker. Moreover, the study relied on the theory of dualistic conversion established by William James – the voluntary and contemplative conversion-type on one extreme, and the immediate, involuntary self-surrender conversion-type on the other – has a long tradition of association with the written accounts of Paul’s conversion; the outcome is a classification of his Damascus experience as a stark division “established in the twinkling of an eye” between the old life and the new. To test the hypothesis, interviews were conducted and data used to examine the roles Salome Matakwei played before and throughout the conflict of Mt Elgon, the transformative daises she used in peace building to reintegrate herself in society as well as her impact in the region. Additionally, the purposive sampling method and the snowballing technique were used in the study to classify respondents who were interviewed using a question guide. The qualitative method was used to analyze the data collected. Content analysis was used to analyze secondary data. Firstly, the study divulged that Salome Matakwei actually played vital roles in the conflict that led to her rejection in the society, a situation that pushed her to transform to peace building. Secondly, she was involved in peace building and utilized various transformative plinths ranging from being the women group leader, Ambassador of peace, preacher, ‘mother to the conflict’s orphans', proprietor of peace initiative center, and peace educator to reintegrate herself into the society. Thirdly, her peace efforts in the region of Mt Elgon brought peace, unity among the widows in Mt Elgon and initiated self- reliable activities to the widows and Ex-SLDF members. Lastly, Salome Matakwei used peace building as a platform of reintegrating herself into society to repudiate the state of rejection and isolation by society. From the study, it is palpable that the role of women in peace building is entangled with their transformative agenda, management of conflict and peace building settings in Africa. It is intended to reintegrate women, in this case Salome Matakwei, back into society after being rejected and secluded especially when they had a direct link with the main culprit in the conflict.