PREFACE
British Council in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, National Cohesion and Constitutional Affairs, through the Department of National Cohesion and Peacenet Kenya, has been spearheading the process of community cohesion with a focus on multiethnic tolerance, long-term peace building and sustainable development. To commence on this huge task, the partners have entered into collaboration with other state and non state actors and engaged in various studies to identify the key longer-term, short-term challenges and opportunities to contribute to national cohesion in Kenya.
The conflict mapping survey was necessitated by the fact that there was need to involve the local communities in preparing a tailor made solutions to their own problems (bottom-up approach). There was need to involve the locals in problem identification, agenda setting, programme design and implementation. The outcomes of these processes has lead to programme priorities for the phases of programming in the mapped areas, as well as a revised strategy and priorities for the National Cohesion Programme as a whole.
The conflict mapping survey analysis report focuses on seven districts - Mt. Elgon, Laikipia West, Tigania East, Pokot, Rongo, Sotik-Borabu and Transmara-Kuria where there are cross cutting issues of disintegration. Each district analysis consisted of three components, specifically: a district multi-stakeholder consultative meetings; research consisting of a literature review, local perception surveys; and thematic assessment of key aspects of social cohesion and development.
The series of district level assessments commissioned by the Department of National Cohesion in conjunction with British Council and Peacenet covered the following thematic issues: (a) social cohesion issues, (b) people and partners, (c) media and information, and (d) community participation. The main conclusions of these reports are summarized in a synthesis paper, which along with all the thematic reports are available in the department of national cohesion, British Council and Peacenet.