Kenya

In December 2007, Kenya descended into political violence following the disputed presidential elections between incumbent President Mwai Kibaki’s Party of National Unity and Raila Odinga’s opposition Orange Democratic Movement. Long considered one of the most stable countries in East Africa, some 1,500 people died and 600,000 were displaced in the violence.

The epicenter was Kenya’s troubled Rift Valley Province, the site of recurrent violence between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin tribes over political power, economic opportunity and land.

Mercy Corps' LEAP programme — funded by USAID — is currently underway in Uasin Gishu and Kericho, two districts in the Rift Valley that were deeply affected by post-election violence. The programme's goal is to strengthen the ability of local communities and organisations to address root causes of post-election violence and to promote peace and reconciliation at the community level.

The LEAP programme is addressing these challenges through training local populations in conflict mitigation and reconciliation; supporting dialogues that disseminate information about Kenya's reform agenda and promote peaceful co-existence; and support cash-for-work projects that reconstruct damaged communities while providing income for youth.