RP-School of Security, Diplomacy and Peace Studies

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Browsing RP-School of Security, Diplomacy and Peace Studies by Author "Gichinga, Teresa Wangechi"

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    Perspectives and Experiences of Women Involved in Peacebuilding Processes in Kenya
    (JAIS, 2023-11) Gichinga, Teresa Wangechi; Mulu, Francis
    The purpose of this study was to investigate experiences of women involved in peacebuilding processes in Kenya. The driving factor for the study was political instability and ethnic conflicts have plagued Kenya, especially since the post-election violence in 2007 and 2008, which claimed the lives of over a thousand people and displaced over 600,000. Many women have been subjected to sexual abuse, been forced to flee their homes, and lost loved ones as a result of these wars. Despite these setbacks, women in Kenya have participated in peacemaking initiatives. Their contributions to community building and healing have been invaluable. Women have played an important role in many aspects of peacebuilding, including but not limited to conflict resolution, mediation, negotiations, and the promotion of social cohesion and community development. The Women's Peace Caravan is an outstanding instance of women's participation in peacebuilding in Kenya. In 2008, a group of women who had been impacted by the violence that followed an election launched this effort. The Ladies’ Peace Caravan was a group of ladies from all over the country who set out on a journey to spread messages of peace and unity. The caravan went to the locations where the violence had taken place and hosted seminars and discussions on fostering peace. Through non-governmental groups, women have also contributed to fostering peace. For instance, the Kenyan Women's Peace Network (KEWOPA) is a network of organizations led by women that advocate for national stability. Conflict resolution, mediation, and promoting women's rights in peacebuilding are all areas in which KEWOPA has participated. Women peacebuilders in Kenya, however, encounter significant obstacles. In peacebuilding efforts, women frequently experience a lack of access to resources and prejudice because of their gender. Women rarely have a voice in formal peace talks and are routinely left out of decision-making procedures. The role of women in fostering peace is also underappreciated. The study findings revealed that Kenyan women participate in local peace committees, civil society groups, and community-based organizations to build peace. Women's perspectives and engagement in addressing the root causes of conflicts and fostering inclusive, long-term peace need to be highlighted. The study established that Kenyan women confront several peacebuilding challenges such as discrimination, marginalization, gender-based violence, and exclusion from decision-making which cause setbacks. If these trends continue, women's engagement may reduce violence and conflict, increase democracy, and improve social cohesion and reconciliation. The study recommends the need to involve Kenyan women in peacebuilding outreach and support for women's organizations and civil society groups, training and capacitybuilding, and efforts to remove systemic impediments to women's participation in decisionmaking.