As part of an effort to increase dialogue and prevent violence between ethnic and religious groups during Kenya’s 2013 general election, United States Institute of Peace has once again partnered with FLT Films, a UK-based non-profit organization, to make the story of Nigerians Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye more widely known among Kenyan communities.
 

USIP Grant Supports Innovative Film-Based Peacebuilding in Kenya

With USIP support, FLT Films is in the early stages of dubbing in Swahili and distributing "An African Answer"—the Kenya-focused sequel to FLT Films’widely acclaimed documentary "The Imam and the Pastor.' An African Answer chronicles the successful mediation efforts of Imam Ashafa and Pastor Wuye—former leaders of opposing militias in Nigeria —as they overcame their differences and worked together to reduce tensions in communities hardest hit by violence after the 2007 Kenyan general election.

In addition to the translation and distribution of the film, FLT Films plans to facilitate intensive training in peacebuilding and mediation techniques similar to those practiced by Imam Ashafa and Pastor Wuye for 24 Kenyan civil society and religious leaders. Community leaders, whose training will include a broad array of African and Western conflict resolution methodologies such as needs assessments, stakeholder analysis, trauma counseling and conflict mapping, will then design action plans to address possible post-electoral tension or violence. The implementation of these action plans will be supported by Imam Ashafa and Pastor Wuye, and will be also be documented in three short films. The films will premiere in Nairobi at the conclusion of the project, and together with "An African Answer", will “demonstrate to policymakers and the general public that peaceful coexistence between all ethnic and religious groups in Kenya is feasible.”

This project primarily seeks to fill the shortage of training for current and potential local peace practitioners in conflict resolution methodologies. The project directors hope that demonstrating successful inter-ethnic and inter-religious conflict mediation will serve to inspire more community leaders to take steps to resolve local conflicts and will show the public that cycles of violence can be broken.

The 2007 Kenyan general election was marred by ethnic violence after a contentious outcome amidst allegations of pervasive fraud. Up to 1,000 people are estimated to have been killed and approximately 200,000 people were displaced as a result of the violence. International pressure and mediation led to the resolution of the crisis with a power-sharing deal and national unity government. The Institute of Peace is one of many organizations – both Kenyan and international – that are working to prevent a recurrence of the 2007 violence. The FLT Films project is in line with USIP’s priorities to empower local communities to resolve their own conflicts and to develop innovative tools for conflict prevention and resolution.

For questions about this USIP grant, please contact Elizabeth Murray at emurray@usip.org.

Explore Further

Related Publications

What’s Next for Kenya After William Ruto’s Presidential Victory?

What’s Next for Kenya After William Ruto’s Presidential Victory?

Thursday, September 15, 2022

By: Chris Kwaja

William Ruto’s emergence as Kenya’s fifth president represents a paradigm shift in the country’s politics. Ruto’s campaign was comprised of a mass movement of workers, the jobless, peasants and other “hustlers” and sought to distance itself from the dynasties that have long run Kenya’s politics. While Ruto was born in a small rural village in the Rift Valley, his opponent, Raila Odinga, is a former prime minister and the son of the country’s first vice president. Marginalized Kenyans see Ruto as the personification of a transformational agenda that centers their plight, defining a contest between hustlers and dynasties. While Kenya faces a dire economic situation, Ruto’s biggest challenge may be overcoming the country’s legacy of ethnic politics and building national cohesion.

Type: Analysis

Democracy & Governance

Kenya: As Drought Deepens Land Conflicts, Peacebuilders Respond

Kenya: As Drought Deepens Land Conflicts, Peacebuilders Respond

Wednesday, September 14, 2022

By: Jeremy Moore

Amid lengthening droughts in a changing climate, millions of herders in northern Kenya are watching their traditional grazing lands dry and harden. As in pastoralist regions from Mongolia to the Sahel, Kenyan herders are now guiding their cattle, camels, sheep or goats longer distances in search of pasturage. The competition for scarcer grassland and water has triggered conflicts and bloodshed among herding communities. But at the grass roots of northern Kenyan society, activists are combining local knowledge and peacebuilding skills to create new ways for rival groups to cooperatively adapt to the changes from a degrading climate.

Type: Blog

Environment

Three Early Lessons from Kenya’s Elections

Three Early Lessons from Kenya’s Elections

Thursday, August 18, 2022

By: Aly Verjee

On August 15, William Ruto was declared president-elect of Kenya, following a vote last week. His chief competitor, Raila Odinga, rejected the results and says he will go to court to seek their invalidation. So far, little evidence of electoral misconduct has been presented, with most observers suggesting the conduct of the polls improved compared to the last vote in 2017. As the country waits for the judicial process to unfold, here are three takeaways from this year’s Kenyan experience.

Type: Analysis

Democracy & Governance

A Kenyan Peacebuilder Explains What’s at Stake in Her Country’s Elections

A Kenyan Peacebuilder Explains What’s at Stake in Her Country’s Elections

Thursday, August 4, 2022

By: Nicoletta Barbera;  Amriya Issa

Kenyans head to the polls on August 9 to vote for president, members of the National Assembly and Senate, and County Leadership for the country’s 47 counties. Elections are an important moment for any country, but the stakes are particularly high ahead for Kenya of Tuesday’s polls. Election violence has been a major issue in previous elections, and there are fears that this vote could spur conflict. Kenya’s next government will face significant challenges. Like many countries in the region, Kenya is suffering from a severe drought, rising debt and inflation, with food prices soaring by 15 percent in the last year. With the largest economy in East Africa, Kenya’s stability is critical for the wider region.

Type: Analysis

Democracy & GovernanceGender

View All Publications