Multiple mediation and conflict resolution: the case of Kenyan`s post-electoral conflict (2007/2008)

Abstract

Conflicts are experienced in different parts of the world. Kenya experienced a violent conflict in 2007/2008 after a disputed presidential election. There were some mediation attempts to resolve the crisis but the parties in conflict did not accept them the African Union intervened and appointed a panel of eminent African personalities to mediate. This panel included three people: the former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, former First lady of Mozambique, Graca Machel, former president of Tanzania, Benjamin Mkapa. These individuals were accepted by the parties in conflict. Multiple mediation involves more than one individual mediating in a conflict. It is usually complex as opinions of all the mediators are taken into consideration. In some cases where multiple mediators are involved, mediation process comes to a halt. In cases where it is successful, the process is usually prolonged as in the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia. However, in the Kenyan case, the three mediators successfully mediated the conflict in a period of only forty one days. The objectives of this study are: to find out the factors that led to the success of multiple mediators in resolving the Kenyan crisis, to analyze the mediation process of the Kenyan post electoral conflict and to examine the strategies used by multiple mediators in resolving the Kenyan conflict. The study highlights important points to take into consideration when multiple mediators are involved in conflict resolution.