The Philosophy of non-violence and its application in the management of Kenya's constitutional conflicts

The author proceeds on the basis that peace is more than the absence of war. The philosophy of non-violence as a way to achieve vital social change is evaluated.The application of non-violence in addressing Kenya’s constitutional conflicts over the last two decades is then considered in the context of key debates in conflict theory. The eventual triumph of the non-violence movement in Kenya in contributing to the adoption of a new constitution in 2010 also strengthens the case for the use of non-violence in achieving social transformation. The author concludes by briefly considering some case studies from other African countries, so as to provide an assessment of non-violence as a means of achieving needed social change