Structural conflict in Kenya: a critique of the post conflict recovery framework

Abstract

Since independence, Kenya has experienced numerous ethnic, resources, political and even electoral based conflicts. The past political regimes attempted to calm the situation every time conflict arose, but only temporary frameworks were put indl place, this has over the years resulted to accumulated tension. The analysis of these experiences and especially after the 2007/ 2008 post election violence shows that there are deep seated issues embedded in the structures and that need attention as illustrated by the Agenda Four of the mediated outcome. The study makes use of secondary data through an intensive desk review to collect and analyze published materials and information from books, journals, magazines, periodicals, the internet, newspaper articles and other reliable sources in order to establish the reality of the Structuralism theory, the Peacebuilding theory and the Kenyan history of structural violence that highlights unsatisfied basic needs within the social, economic and political structures in Kenya.

In focusing at the Kofi Annan post conflict recovery framework, the study critiques the extent to which his team's effort transformed Kenya structures into a positive peace society. Agenda Four was a long term peacebuilding plan of action that offered hope to end structural conflict in Kenya through the post conflict recovery framework set out by Annan that intended to transform the otherwise conflictual social, political and economic relationships between the diverse ethnic communities. Although Kenya faces another election in 2013, the implementation of the framework has been faced with lack of follow up by the stakeholders, lack of political will from the coalition government and general misunderstanding on the need to transform social relationships hence exposing Kenya to continued violence in future.