A highly innovative two year project to ensure the voice of the poor is heard in the run-up to the next presidential election.
When the results of Kenya’s hotly contested 2007 presidential election were disputed by supporters of the two main candidates, the election was immediately followed by a sustained and brutal period of violence as tribally based militias incited attacks against rival tribes and political groups.
The result was over 1,000 deaths and over 300,000 people displaced from their homes.
The violence was particularly severe in some of the more marginalised parts of the country where competition for limited resources is acute.
The government has had limited success in investigating the causes behind the violence and building a stronger level of trust between communities. Much more needs to be done if the next presidential election, planned for 2012, is to pass off peacefully.
The project
In October 2010 Christian Aid started its Vital Voices project in Kenya. The project aims to work towards improved political and economic governance, bringing marginalised communities together and getting their ‘vital voices’ heard.
The locations that have been chosen for the project are all marginalised areas, both in the poorer rural parts of the country and in the urban slum of Kibera in Nairobi.
The project is particularly focused on efforts to get these people engaging with both the government and one another in a bid to avoid future violence and ultimately, alleviate poverty.
Four local partners are involved:
Nairobi Peace Initiative-Africa (NPI): NPI-Africa is a peace building and conflict resolution NGO.
Coalition on Violence Against Women – Kenya (COVAW-K): Has a long track record of working on human rights issues, particularly as they affect women.
Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW): CREAW works mainly on behalf of the poor and marginalized women in pursuit of legal justice.
Northern Aid: A national NGO working with marginalised communities in Northern Kenya
European Commission match funding
This highly innovative and strategic project has won the support of the European Commission. With each donation of £5,000 through the Partnership Scheme, £15,000 will be donated from the EC, immediately multiplying the impact of your contribution.
Find out more about how your church, business or school can get involved with the Partnership Scheme by contacting Max Khanna on +44 (0) 20 8123 7523 or partnershipscheme@christian-aid.org
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