In Kenya, we supported communities, CSOs and public sector institutions in the five counties of Bungoma, Kiambu, Nairobi, Uasin Gishu and Kajiado to design practical plans and community initiatives to address divisions and root causes of conflict. This was achieved through community-level dialogues, trainings on advocacy, conflict early warning response, conversations at country and national levels on peacebuilding and conflict, and radio talk shows.

Though the lead up to the 2022 general election was largely peaceful, there was both a real and perceived view of young people as perpetrators of election-related violence. We worked with our partner the Universities and College Students’ Peace Association of Kenya, along with the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission and the National Youth Council, to implement activities specifically targeting young people, with the aim of increasing civic education and voter registration and reducing electoral violence.

Another impact of Saferworld’s work, through the facilitation of a joint peace tournament and peace talks, was improved social interactions and conflict dialogues between the historically warring Kikuyu-Maasai communities on the border of Kiambu and Kajiado counties.

Towards the end of 2021, Saferworld partnered with World Vision, the Northern Rangeland Trust, the Stockholm Environment Institute and the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association to design and implement the second phase of the Integrated Management of Natural Resources for Resilience in Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (IMARA) programme (funded by the Government of Sweden). Saferworld is leading on efforts to strengthen governance systems and structures for conflict-sensitive and sustainable natural resource management and climate change adaptation at community, county and national levels.