This project seeks to generate new, evidence-based knowledge and understanding regarding civilians’ agency in local conflict transformation processes in Kenya’s Uasin Gishu County. The research will be conducted in three urban hotspot areas of Uasin Gishu, which have been at the centre of heated political contests in recent electioneering periods (2013 and 2017 general elections) and were adversely affected by the 2007-2008 post-election violence.
Using participatory methods such as the People-First Impact Method (PFIM) and Community Scorecards, the project explores existing and emergent local civilian protection systems and the related civilian knowledge and/or capacity gaps that need to be addressed to bolster them. Its findings will provide a local and contextual understanding of the face and dynamics of unarmed civilian protection (UCP) in Uasin Gishu, the role played by civilians/civilian groups in local peace processes and protection systems, and how UCP in Uasin Gishu feeds into county and national security organs.
The expected outcomes of this endeavour will be:
- Enhanced knowledge on existing and emergent local civilian protection systems in Burnt Forest, Langas and Turbo;
- Improved knowledge on civilian capacity gaps regarding unarmed civilian protection in Burnt Forest, Langas and Turbo;
- Improved knowledge on the intersectionality between international, national and local (self-protection) civilian protection mechanisms.
Research team:
- Clinton Gwako, Rural Women Peace Link (principal investigator)
- Selline Korir, Rural Women Peace Link