Transitional justice and the mitigation of electoral violence through the Amani Mashinani model in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya1

Abstract

Kenya, a country with about 45 ethnic groups, is politically and ethnically polarized. The ethnic card is regularly exploited to further polarize society, especially during the election periods. In the aftermath of elections, the political interest in promoting ethnic conflict transformation through transitional justice processes has not succeeded in uniting ethnic groups. Studies have predominantly focused on conflict resolution and transitional justice interventions at the state level. Transitional justice initiatives that focus on dialogue, forgiveness, retribution, reconciliation and healing at the community grassroots level are often overlooked. This chapter assesses the efforts of the Catholic Church and communities in Uasin Gishu County to promote peace initiatives through the church’s Amani Mashinani (Peace at the Grassroots) model. The chapter begins with an overview of Kenya’s ethnic violence and transitional justice efforts. It then pays attention to the nature and causes of electoral violence that manifests through conflicts between the ethnic groups living Uasin Gishu County, particularly during the election periods. Subsequently, the chapter explores the role of the Catholic Church within a transitional justice framework that deploys processes that encompass dialogue, forgiveness, reconciliation, reparation, social cohesion and healing to address election-related violence. Lederach’s analysis of peace from below will be linked to the objectives of this transitional justice framework, so as to illustrate how the Catholic Church and its Amani Mashinani model can play a role in promoting non-formal transitional processes through the redress of the harm endured as a result of election-related violence. The chapter concludes by highlighting the factors that hinder the full realization of transitional justice through grassroots models and offers suggestions on how these can be countered.