Soccer in Promoting Peace in Kenya’s Informal Settlements: the Case of Mathare Slums (2008-2017)

Abstract

Soccer has been touted as a passionate and emotional game that has the capacity to generate conflict and peace between individuals or groups. In the 21st century, soccer is increasingly emerging as a useful tool for peace-building due to its capacity to open and maintain communication in antagonistic milieus and its ability to connect people, establish channels for cooperation and reframe social ties between communities/ and groups that have previously been in antagonistic stances. Consequently, this paper examined the role of soccer in fostering peace in Kenya’s informal settlements using the case study of soccer clubs in Nairobi’s Mathare slums (2008-2017). Specifically, the study evaluated the nature of conflict in the Mathare slums; examined the impact of soccer activities on the promotion of reconciliation in Mathare slums; and assessed the challenges of soccer activities in peace building in Mathare slums. The study is hinged upon Johann Galtung’s 3Rs peace model which translates to restoration once an act of brutally has occurred, reunification of the entities or persons in conflict as well as resolving underlying factors that have led to the conflict. Further, it employs a qualitative approach to evaluate the role of soccer in promoting peace in Nairobi’s Mathare informal settlements. Data was collected through interviews with soccer players, soccer fans, grassroot leaders, soccer club officials, provincial administration and peace committee members in Mathare slums. The findings were presented in narration form. The findings revealed that conflict in Mathare slums is a common phenomenon that was witnessed during the period 2008-2017. Poverty, unemployment, land disputes, ethnicity, police brutality and poor governance were found to fuel conflict in Mathare slums. The findings established that soccer has been able to engage the youth in environmental and social activities, thus shielding them from being recruited into militia and vigilante groups and ultimately promoting peace through the soccer related activities. The findings indicated that the challenges of soccer related activities range from inadequate financing, poor governance and political interference, gender imbalance, soccer hooliganism, the reality that soccer is not loved by everyone, and lack of proper formal education. The study recommends that more financing for soccer related activities should be availed by the government. Additionally, NGOs and volunteers should also offer more financial support to the local soccer teams/clubs to finance their initiatives in peace building in Mathare slums.