The Role of Non-State Actors in Enhancing Peacebuilding Among Women in Mount Elgon Region, Kenya

The African continent has borne the brunt of inter-ethnic and intra-ethnic conflicts. Consequently, there are many efforts aimed at rebuilding societies torn apart by conflicts in the African continent. This paper posits that non-state actors play great roles in fostering grassroots peace initiatives. This study examines the role of non-state actors in promoting peacebuilding among women in Mount Elgon region in Kenya following the aftermath of the 2006-2008 intra-ethnic conflict between the Soy and Ndorobo[1] clans of the Sabaot community. The conflict led to the formation of the Sabaot Land Defence force which inflicted harm on the residents. Furthermore, 2008 military intervention left the residents psychologically traumatised. The paper adopts a phenomenological approach which entails a description of peacebuilding as experienced by the respondents who experienced and participated in the peacebuilding efforts. The paper shows that non-state actors played great roles in enhancing peacebuilding among women in Mount Elgon region. The peace initiatives included promoting psycho-social healing, addressing human rights of the community and participating in economic empowerment programmes. [1] A clan refers to a group of people descendent from the same ancestor. But in the scope of this study, the term clan refers to the two sub-groups of the Sabaot community. The group occupying the moorland is the Mosop/Ndorobo while the one on the lowland is the Soy. In 2006-2008, the two clans were involved in an intra-ethnic conflict over the Chepyuk settlement scheme. The conflict affected more than 116,220 people. Out of this, over 200 lives were lost with 15,580 people being displaced in Trans Nzoia County and Bungoma Counties