ISS Seminar, Nairobi: Human Security and Kenya

Date: 2010-11-10

Venue: Intercontinental Hotel , , Nairobi , , Kenya

RSVP: Mrs. Catherine Okiya

email: [email protected] or by phone:  0738 333 798.

Organized by the African Conflict Prevention Programme Nairobi

Background

August 4, 2010 was a historic day for Kenya following a peaceful constitutional referendum that saw close to 67% of the electorate vote in favour of adopting the proposed new constitution.  The significance of this day was both in the outcome and the process.  The last constitutional referendum in 2005 was defeated and followed by the 2007 election that plunged the country into unprecedented violent conflict. The 2008 post election violence in Kenya brought to the fore, unresolved structural issues from the past that culminated in a violent conflict bringing death, displacement and destruction.  There are a myriad of causes and drivers of violent conflict in Kenya.  Some of those identified include historic injustices, high stakes politics, inequitable resource distribution, negative politicized ethnicity, issues of governance and impunity.  Poverty and a proliferation of illegal armed groups have also exacerbated past conflicts.  Tackling these structural causes of conflict is crucial to Kenya’s progressive development and it is also critical to ensuring human security for all.  Designing a new constitution gave Kenya an opportunity to address the root causes of recurring violent conflicts and establish additional frameworks to prevent future conflicts and promote human security. 

Objectives of the Seminar

The aim of this seminar is to deliberate on provisions in the new constitution that address the identified root causes of violent conflict in Kenya analyse the prospects and challenges, and seek recommendations to enhance policy implementation.  In looking at the new constitution, deliberations at this seminar will seek to answer the following questions:

What are the provisions within the new constitution that address the root causes of recurrent violent conflicts in Kenya?

How effectively do the provisions in the new constitution tackle the root causes of violent conflict and what are the potential challenges and opportunities therein?

Where are the possible gaps in the constitutional provisions that need consideration to ensure comprehensive and sustainable peace in Kenya?

The seminar will bring together government officials, politicians, diplomats, security practitioners, academics, researchers and members of the civil society to deliberate on the issues.

Kindly confirm your participation through Mrs. Catherine Okiya via email: [email protected] or by phone:  0738 333 798.

Please note that discussions occur under ISS Rules.  Participants are free to use the information presented, but neither the identity nor the affiliation of the speaker(s), nor that of any other participant, may be revealed without his/her express permission.