Causes and Responses to Violent Conflicts

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to analyze the root causes of the post election violence which was witnessed in Kenya in 2007/2008. The study also sought to evaluate responses to the Kenyan conflict by the international community. A literature review of articles on the 2007 post election violence was conducted and personal experience of the events used to supplement the literature review and to apply the tools of conflict analysis to the study. The study found out that the post election violence witnessed in Kenya in 2007/2008 was not simply about the disputed presidential election results but had many deep rooted causes. Among the causes were land disputes between ethnic groups, perceived political and economic marginalization of some ethnic groups, perceived personalization and abuse of presidential powers, perceived unjust legal system, ethnic hostilities an suspicion, corruption and impunity. It was also found that the immediate responses of the international community to end the violence concentrated on only one category of leaders-top politicians and on one main agenda political power sharing, Although this strategy succeeded in quelling the violence, efforts to achieve sustainable peace must include the other players in the middle and lower sectors of the Kenyan society, attitudinal and behavioural factors and a host of other pertinent grievances that had fuelled the conflict