AFRICA/KENYA – A study of the Church: the factors of internal conflict

Nairobi (Agenzia Fides) - Youth unemployment, unequal distribution of resources, land disputes, fights between ethnic and political groups. These are the potential causes of conflict in Kenya according to a study sponsored by the local Episcopal Commission "Justice and Peace", based on interviews with 582 people in 7 of the 47 Counties (Kisii, Kisumu, Nairobi, Nakuru, Trans Nzoia and Uasin Gishu) in which the country is divided.
The study aims to identify the main "hot spots" where conflicts may arise, especially in light of the gradual devolution of power from central government to local governments. And it is the management of the devolution process which concern 23% of those interviewed, who fear that in this way one can accentuate divisions. The County where this fear is stronger is in Uasin Gishu (51%) while that of Nakuru with only (14%) is the most confident.
There are other factors of concern. In particular, the perception that a group can get the upper hand over the other (58% consider it a potential cause of conflict); land conflicts (especially in Nakuru and Kisumu); the unequal distribution of resources (74.8%).
The situation of young people is even more interesting. 82% of the people interviewed think that young people can influence politics even more than politicians. But youth unemployment is considered by 74.2% as one of the factors of greatest risk with regards to the stability of the Country, also due to the tendency of unscrupulous politicians that manipulate the youth. The study points out that between 1992 and 1996 street children increased by 300%. Now these have become street youth, prone to violence, ready to be recruited by gangs used by unscrupulous politicians.
Finally, the study suggests some ways to ensure that such tragedies are not repeated, such as the post –electoral violence in 2007-2008, which caused 1,300 deaths and 35,000 displaced, how to offer more resources to Counties for economic development and the fight against youth unemployment (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 11/03/2015)