8 - Silent Religiosity in a Snivelling Nation: The Role of Religious Institutions in Promoting Post-conflict Reconciliation in Kenya
Corresponding Author(s) : Susan M. Kilonzo
Africa Media Review,
Vol. 17 No. 1-2 (2009): Africa Media Review, Volume 17, no 1 & 2, 2009
Abstract
This article seeks to examine the role of religious institutions in peace building, prior to and after the 2007 post-elections violence in Kenya. The author builds an argument that supports the view that religious institutions have a role to play in peace building. Using Klopp’s (2002) conception about liberal versus illiberal nationalism, the author explains how religious institutions in Kenya can be a voice for the voiceless communities, especially during and after conflicts largely
triggered by the political leaders in the country. The arguments presented bring to the forefront the role that religious institutions play in post-conflict situations to reconcile diverse ethnic communities, and offer some lessons learned about post-conflict peace communication.
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- Anderson, D. and Lochery, T., 2008, ‘Violence and Exodus in Kenya’s Rift Valley, 2008: Predictable and Preventable?’, JEAS, 2(2), p. 338.
- Anderson, D., 2002, ‘Vigilantes, Violence and the Politics of Public Order in Kenya’, Journal of African Affairs, 101, pp. 531-555.
- Bangura, K., 2007, ‘The Study of Peace and Conflict Studies: Reflections on a Scientific Approach’, in McCandless, Bangura, et al., eds., Peace Research for Africa: Critical Essays on Methodology, Addis Ababa: University for Peace.
- Batson, M., 1993, Religion and the Individual. A Socio-Psychological Perspec- tive, New York: Oxford University Press.
- Belloni, R., 2009, ‘“Mediation” and “Arbitration” in Intractable Conflicts’, Ethnopolitics, 8:2, 247-250.
- Belshaw, D., 2001, Faith in Development. Partnership Between the World Bank and Churches of Africa, Oxford: Regnum Books International.
- Jarstad, Anna K. and Nilsson, Desirée, 2008, ‘From Words to Deeds: The Imple- mentation of Power-Sharing Pacts in Peace Accords, Conflict Management and Peace’, Science, 25:3,206-223.
- Kisaka, O., 2008, ‘Religion’s Role in Kenya’, Religion & Ethics, www.pbs.ofg/ wnet/religionand ethics/episodes/June-13-2008, accessed 23 May 2009.
- Klopp, J., 2002, ‘Can Moral Ethnicity Trump Political Tribalism? The Struggle for Land and Nation in Kenya’, Journal of African Studies, 61(2), pp. 269-294.
- Le Billon, Philippe, 2008, ‘Corrupting Peace? Peace Building and Post-Conflict Corruption’, International Peacekeeping, 15:3, 344-361.
- Mueller, S., 2008, ‘The Failure of Dynasticism and the Strength of the ODM Wave in Kenya’s Rift Valley Province’, Journal of African Affairs, 2008, 107 (429).
- Muringo, I., 2004, ‘The Kenyan Transitional Justice Process: Witch-Hunt or True Democracy?’, in Muteshi, J., ed., Perspective on Gender Discourse: Transi- tional Justice in Kenya: The Gender Question. Nairobi: Heinrich Boll Foun- dation.
- Musambayi, K., 2005, ‘A City Under Siege: Banditry & Modes of Accumulation in Nairobi, 19912004’,
- Review of African Political Economy, 106, p. 505.
- Ndegwa, S., 2004, ‘Citizenship and Ethnicity: An Examination of Two Transitional Movements in Kenyan Politics’, Journal of American Political Science Re- view, 91(3), pp. 599-616.
- Nilsson, N., 2009, ‘Obstacles to Building a Civic Nation: Georgia’s Armenian Mi- nority and Conflicting Threat Perceptions’, Ethnopolitics, 8: 2,135 C 153.
- Okullu, H., 2003, Church and State in Nation Building and Human Development, Nairobi: Uzima Press.
- Orobator, A., 2002, The Church as Family: African Ecclesiology in its Social Context, Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa.
- Odhiambo, A., 2004, ‘Ethnic Cleansing and Civil Society in Kenya 1969-1992’, Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 22(1), pp. 29-42.
- Philip, M., 2008, ‘Peace Building and Corruption’, Journal of International Peace- keeping, 15:3, 310 C 327.
- Rosenberg, M., 2005, Non-violent Communication: A Language of Life. Encinitas, CA: PuddleDancer Press.
- Turner, T. and Brownhill, E., 2001, ‘African Jubilee: Mau Mau Resurgence and the Fight for Fertility in Kenya, 1986-2002’, in Special Issue, Canadian Journal of Development Studies.
- Wainaina, N., 2009a, ‘The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission: A Flawed law’, retrieved 7 February 2009, http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/com- ment/53657.
- Wainaina, N., 2009b, ‘Kenya Let Opportunity for Change Slip’, Daily Nation, 27 February 2009.
- Zalot, J., 2002, The Roman Catholic Church and Economic Development in Sub Saharan Africa, New York: University Press of America.
References
Anderson, D. and Lochery, T., 2008, ‘Violence and Exodus in Kenya’s Rift Valley, 2008: Predictable and Preventable?’, JEAS, 2(2), p. 338.
Anderson, D., 2002, ‘Vigilantes, Violence and the Politics of Public Order in Kenya’, Journal of African Affairs, 101, pp. 531-555.
Bangura, K., 2007, ‘The Study of Peace and Conflict Studies: Reflections on a Scientific Approach’, in McCandless, Bangura, et al., eds., Peace Research for Africa: Critical Essays on Methodology, Addis Ababa: University for Peace.
Batson, M., 1993, Religion and the Individual. A Socio-Psychological Perspec- tive, New York: Oxford University Press.
Belloni, R., 2009, ‘“Mediation” and “Arbitration” in Intractable Conflicts’, Ethnopolitics, 8:2, 247-250.
Belshaw, D., 2001, Faith in Development. Partnership Between the World Bank and Churches of Africa, Oxford: Regnum Books International.
Jarstad, Anna K. and Nilsson, Desirée, 2008, ‘From Words to Deeds: The Imple- mentation of Power-Sharing Pacts in Peace Accords, Conflict Management and Peace’, Science, 25:3,206-223.
Kisaka, O., 2008, ‘Religion’s Role in Kenya’, Religion & Ethics, www.pbs.ofg/ wnet/religionand ethics/episodes/June-13-2008, accessed 23 May 2009.
Klopp, J., 2002, ‘Can Moral Ethnicity Trump Political Tribalism? The Struggle for Land and Nation in Kenya’, Journal of African Studies, 61(2), pp. 269-294.
Le Billon, Philippe, 2008, ‘Corrupting Peace? Peace Building and Post-Conflict Corruption’, International Peacekeeping, 15:3, 344-361.
Mueller, S., 2008, ‘The Failure of Dynasticism and the Strength of the ODM Wave in Kenya’s Rift Valley Province’, Journal of African Affairs, 2008, 107 (429).
Muringo, I., 2004, ‘The Kenyan Transitional Justice Process: Witch-Hunt or True Democracy?’, in Muteshi, J., ed., Perspective on Gender Discourse: Transi- tional Justice in Kenya: The Gender Question. Nairobi: Heinrich Boll Foun- dation.
Musambayi, K., 2005, ‘A City Under Siege: Banditry & Modes of Accumulation in Nairobi, 19912004’,
Review of African Political Economy, 106, p. 505.
Ndegwa, S., 2004, ‘Citizenship and Ethnicity: An Examination of Two Transitional Movements in Kenyan Politics’, Journal of American Political Science Re- view, 91(3), pp. 599-616.
Nilsson, N., 2009, ‘Obstacles to Building a Civic Nation: Georgia’s Armenian Mi- nority and Conflicting Threat Perceptions’, Ethnopolitics, 8: 2,135 C 153.
Okullu, H., 2003, Church and State in Nation Building and Human Development, Nairobi: Uzima Press.
Orobator, A., 2002, The Church as Family: African Ecclesiology in its Social Context, Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa.
Odhiambo, A., 2004, ‘Ethnic Cleansing and Civil Society in Kenya 1969-1992’, Journal of Contemporary African Studies, 22(1), pp. 29-42.
Philip, M., 2008, ‘Peace Building and Corruption’, Journal of International Peace- keeping, 15:3, 310 C 327.
Rosenberg, M., 2005, Non-violent Communication: A Language of Life. Encinitas, CA: PuddleDancer Press.
Turner, T. and Brownhill, E., 2001, ‘African Jubilee: Mau Mau Resurgence and the Fight for Fertility in Kenya, 1986-2002’, in Special Issue, Canadian Journal of Development Studies.
Wainaina, N., 2009a, ‘The Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission: A Flawed law’, retrieved 7 February 2009, http://www.pambazuka.org/en/category/com- ment/53657.
Wainaina, N., 2009b, ‘Kenya Let Opportunity for Change Slip’, Daily Nation, 27 February 2009.
Zalot, J., 2002, The Roman Catholic Church and Economic Development in Sub Saharan Africa, New York: University Press of America.