This case study provides the first analysis of the successful mediation between
two communities who took up arms against each in the wake of the disputed 2007
General Elections. It is written by one of the mediators in the peace process. The
Nakuru County Peace Accord ensured that, for the first time since 1992, a peaceful
election took place in 2013. That this happened despite the earlier indictment of
important political actors from the two communities by the International Criminal
Court is even more remarkable.
The case study examines the post-election violence of 2007-2008 within a
wider historical context of ethnic-based conflict. It reveals the critical role of four
groups – male Elders from the Gikuyu and the Kalenjin communities, the National
Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) working with the National Steering
Committee on Conflict Management and Peace Building (NSC), and the Centre
for Humanitarian Dialogue (the HD Centre) – who collaborated for a period of 16
months between 2010 and 2012. The case study concludes with some lessons
drawn from the process, including the challenge of securing peace and justice, as
well as recommendations for ensuring the durability of the Peace Accord.
