Kenya has made significant progress in preventing, mitigating conflict and strengthening and national unity. However more needs to be done to ensure that this progress is sustained across the country. In line with the development priorities of the Government of Kenya and as part of UNDP’s and development partner’s intervention, support is being provided to Kenya to address underlying causes of conflict and division among communities, including the coastal region.

The Government of Sweden is one of UNDP’s key partners in Kenya’s interventions for building and sustaining peace as well as strengthening national cohesion. It is in this context that a joint field visit by the UNDP Resident Representative and Swedish Ambassador to Kilifi and Mombasa counties was undertaken between 14^th to 16^th October 2020. Joining the mission were partners drawn from the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), National Steering Committee on Peace and Conflict Management (NSC), and the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).

The visit to Kilifi and Mombasa counties was timely noting the recent signing of an agreement between UNDP and the Government of Sweden, through the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA) and the Embassy of Sweden to implement the Transcending Foundations of Peace and Security for Inclusive and Sustainable Development programme. The programme will provide support to the Government and people of Kenya in tackling one of the complex challenges Kenya faces today of sustained peace and security. – insert more info about the objectives of the project.

The Swedish Ambassador, H. E. Caroline Vicini joined by the Resident Representative, Mr. Walid Badawi made courtesy calls to County Commissioners and County Governments of Kilifi and Mombasa counties, and field visits to local implementing partners who are supporting the national and local agenda in strengthening and promoting peace in Kilifi and Mombasa counties. Key local implementing partners visited included Human Rights Agenda (HURIA), HAKI Africa , Kenya Community Support Centre(KECOSCE), Sauti Ya Wanawake NGO, Mombasa Youth Assembly, Mombasa County Assembly Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, among others working with women and youth actors on democracy, gender equality, human rights and COVID-19 interventions.

The mission was conducted in Kilifi and Mombasa to showcase the work of partners working on peace and security in the two counties; to establish and deliberate on the status of peace, cohesion, security, PVE, political, gender, youth, human rights and development context of Kilifi and Mombasa counties; and to assess the contributions of local peace actors, including women and youth, in peace and development issues..

During the visit to HURIA’s Legal Aid Centre where women and youth actors were gathered, UNDP Resident Representative Mr. Walid Badawi pointed out that, “development can only happen when there is peace. The only way we can ensure the continuation of peace is through dialogue and inclusion of all stakeholders especially women and youths, who constitute over 50% of the Kenyan population, in the peace process.”

Speaking at the same function, Her Excellency Ambassador Caroline Vicini thanked the county and national government for the structures put in place to support the dialogue and inclusion of the community in peace processes. She stated that, “it is important to note that there are strong Government structures in place to engage and empower civil servants who are willing to empower the community and to instil confidence especially in women and youths to participate in these peace process.”

Kilifi and Mombasa county have been at the centre of violent extremism, radicalization and high rates of Gender Based Violence (GBV) brought on due to high poverty prevalence and proximity to conflict areas such as Somali, South Sudan and Great Lakes Region. These issues have become more important because it is particularly affecting young people who are vulnerable to being enlisted into terrorist networks, small arms trade and narcotics and drugs networks.  Women are equally being affected as they are victims of GBV and bereavement of their loved ones (husbands, brothers and sons) due to frequent abductions.  

Speaking during the courtesy call, Mombasa Governor Honourable Hassan Ali Joho stated that, “Mombasa has made great strides in ensuring peace and reducing radicalisation. We have ensured that there are clear policies in place and as such we have rolled out an action plan for the peace process. As a county government we have accommodated everyone in the peace process to ensure that there is cohesion and co-existence among all.”

UNDP and its partners in the peace, conflict prevention and security sector are providing support to the Government of Kenya to address underlying causes of conflict and division such as exclusion and marginalization, divisive political mobilization, small arms proliferation, disputes over natural resources, climate change, among others. 

This is being done through legal and policy dialogue and advocacy, institutional development and capacity building, peace innovation platforms, early warning and early response systems to address immediate and underlying drivers of conflict - poverty and inequality, youth unemployment and vulnerability, exploitation of ethnic difference, inequitable distribution of scarce environmental goods, environmental degradation and adverse effects of climate change, socioeconomic exclusion and marginalization, limited engagement of women in conflict transformation, and proliferation of small arms.