Peace teams formed ahead of Kenya referendum

Peace committees have been set up in four Kenya districts identified through an early warning system as potential hot spots ahead of the August 4 referendum.

Dickson Magotsi, the team leader of Uwiano Platform for Peace secretariat that is a collaboration of government and civil society, said there was anxiety in the areas after threats were issued to communities considered "outsiders".

The districts are Trans Nzoia, Wareng, Kisumu East and Tinderet.

“I would say that these are the places that are worrying,” Magotsi said.

The Uwiano Platform for Peace is a joint initiative of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), PeaceNet Kenya and the National Steering Committee on Peace Building and Conflict Prevention in the Ministry of Internal Security and Provincial administration.

In Trans Nzoia, families that have been threatened with eviction were disposing of their livestock and crops at throw-away prices for fear of violence breaking out.

Indication of fear

Leaflets warning 'outsiders’ in Trans Nzoia began circulating in March this year and have heightened the situation as well as creating fear.

“It is not yet time for harvesting in Trans Nzoia but farmers are destroying and selling their crops and livestock at throwaway prices,” he said.

“This is a clear indication of fear.”

In Tinderet, leaflets threatening members of two communities to leave the area before the August 4 referendum have been in circulation. The leaflets dated July 5, 2010 warn the communities to prepare for war should the 'Yes’ team win.

Already, police have arrested five members of a local vigilante group 'Home Boys’, which is believed to have carried out the atrocities in the post-election violence in Nandi East and Tinderet.

Similar threats have been issued to 'outsiders’ in Wareng and the cosmopolitan Kisumu East districts, said Mr Magotsi.

He said that the secretariat has sent in a peace committee alongside members of civil society and provincial administration in Trans Nzoia which is considered in need of quick response to forestall possible violent conflict.

“The peace committee, civil society and members of provincial administration have lined up a series of meetings in specific areas that are affected,” he said.

Diffuse tension

Later, they will hold a mediation meeting to dialogue further to come out with ways of diffusing the tension, added Mr Magotsi.

It is set up with an initial funding of Sh32 million ($400,000) from UNDP and Canadian International Development Agency to forestall possible violent conflicts ahead of the referendum. It will rely on short text messages from any Kenyan about the peace situation across the country.

Individuals are called upon to relay messages to the Uwiano secretariat on 6397 at no cost from their mobile phones. Users can also reach the secretariat on 0738452422.

Speaking at the launch of the programme, NCIC Chairman Dr Mzalendo Kibunjia said the ultimate goal of the commission involved creating harmony, tolerance and appreciation of existing ethnic diversity by all Kenyans. UNDP country representative Dr Ozonnia Ojiello was also present.

“We lack presence all over Kenya but we felt such a platform would be of help,” said Mr Kibunjia.

“Through SMS, anyone is able to exercise the civic duty of preventing situations from escalation.”

The Uwiano secretariat will also have field monitors. Other tools to get the alerts are video and audio clips, photographs including of hate leaflets and internet including blogs and social websites such as Facebook.

NCIC will be holding weekly press briefs to inform the country about the alerts that come in through the early warning system, said Mr Kibunjia.