by Adrian Gregorich
Waves of ethnic violence have been rippling throughout the Tana Delta area in Kenya in recent years, claiming hundred of lives along the way. Conflict between the Orma, traditional pastoralists, and the Pokomo, primarily subsistence farmers, has resulted in longstanding animosity and widespread distrust between the two ethnic groups. Several factors contribute to this enduring conflict, though the primary issue is that of land ownership. Both groups’ livelihoods rely almost entirely on use of the land, and the lack of official land deeds leaves land ownership uncertain. In the context of severe poverty, encroachment on one another’s traditional livelihoods, such as Orma grazing livestock on Pokomo farmlands, or Pokomo butchering Orma cattle, is a critical threat to the well being of both ethnic communities. Furthermore, during election times, antagonism between these two groups intensifies, and politicians have been accused of inciting ethnic violence. Between September 2012 and January 2013, 166 people were killed in nine separate massacres throughout the Tana River area.
Previous fieldwork has indicated that much of the violence between the Orma and Pokomo is triggered by rumours, most of them ill-founded. The Sentinel Project, a Toronto-based organization working to prevent atrocities, has launched a humanitarian communication network as a means of curbing rumours and preventing violence in the area. Called Una Hakika? – Swahili for “Are You Sure?” – this project encourages delta residents to be sure of the accuracy of the information they act on. The project aims to provide subscribers with accurate and neutral information in response to rumours that are being spread in the area. The system will rely on SMS (short messaging service, or text messaging) and calls, as well as community outreach through the involvement of community ambassadors.
During a baseline survey conducted by The Sentinel Project to determine the access to and use of technology in the area, respondents were asked if they were interested in joining future violence prevention efforts through Una Hakika. From those who stepped forward, ambassadors were selected to represent a cross-section of age, gender, and ethnic and religious groups. Community ambassadors work on a volunteer basis and are accountable to the Una Hakika team, a mix of Kenyan and Canadian members of The Sentinel Project. They will provide the human element to the project, serving as spokespeople and reaching parts of the community that would not otherwise be accessible due to lack of network coverage. Community ambassadors are motivated by their desire for a return to amicable relations among communities in the area. As one community ambassador stated during a training session: “Orma and Pokomo used to be integrated and would socialize together. Those days are over now. We need to educate both sides so we can start a meaningful peace dialogue.” Dealing proactively with rumours is an important step toward opening up the dialogue between hostile groups and creating a platform on which to rebuild trust and begin discussions of underlying issues of division, like land use.
Before reaching out to various communities across the Tana Delta, The Sentinel Project coordinates with local stakeholders for support and guidance. Local chiefs and community elders are approached for their approval and participation in the project, and assist in mobilizing their community’s involvement in Una Hakika.
The District Commissioner of Tana Delta, Mike Kimoko, has served as a gatekeeper to the Tana Delta area for The Sentinel Project since the initial field visit to the area and provided an extensive contact list of community leaders across the Tana Delta. Mr. Kimoko extended an invitation to The Sentinel Project to join and participate in the Tana Delta Peace Forum, a group of NGOs, government representatives and religious leaders that meet once a month to discuss ongoing peace building initiatives. The forum provides the opportunity for civil society and local authorities to share ideas for projects that could bring peace and stability to the Tana Delta area. Mr. Kimoko explained: “Peace is pertinent to development in our community. We created this forum so that anyone engaged in peacebuilding could meet as partners. We can share hotspots, and share approaches to challenges.”
The Maryknoll Sisters, a Catholic convent working in the area and members of the Tana Delta Peace Forum, have initiated small group conversations biweekly that provide community members with the opportunity to speak openly with one another about the problems they face, including the fear of violence. Everyone is welcome to attend these meetings, no matter their age, gender or ethnicity, and to speak without being interrupt, opening the way for people share stories and grievances. “We include everyone, including Orma, Pokomo, and other ethnic groups, since conflict affects everyone in the community,” Sister Theresa said.
Since most people in the area are members of faith groups, predominantly Christian and Muslim, key leaders in religious communities could provide a means of facilitating peace initiatives in the area. Through such community peace-building efforts, participants benefit from hearing many different narratives regarding the conflict, leading to a better understanding of the violence that has taken place and the impact of the conflict on the lives of the community. These efforts also create an avenue for community healing to take place in the aftermath of violence, although meaningful healing will not occur while violent conflict continues, as is the case.
This type of community group meeting has great potential for preventing violence in the area. To prevent further violence, community members will need to find common ground, being able to express their concerns without fear of violent repercussions. The Sentinel Project aims to contribute to this peace-building process through the Una Hakika project by providing accurate information and dispelling the harmful misinformation that has contributed to past violence. Una Hakika will supplement ongoing peace initiatives by broadening the possibilities for a common ground between groups by providing accurate information, which will allow respondents to get the facts needed to make well-informed decisions that keep their communities safe.
Community discussion on violence prevention, whether face-to-face, such as the conversations held by the Maryknoll Sisters, or in cyberspace, as will be the case with Una Hakika, will give voice to various marginalized groups. Members of these groups who usually hold little agency in their communities can then access information directly. This is particularly the case for many of the women in rural communities, whose involvement outside of housework is often curtailed. Youth are also marginalized in that their opinions and points of concern are often overlooked and deemed less valuable than adults’.
By broadening discourse through group meetings, which mobile technology can facilitate, people’s access to information is no longer restricted by traditional hierarchical power structures. In this way, mobile technology can assist in a democratizing process.
Adrian Gregorich is the Community Manager at The Sentinel Project for Genocide Prevention.