2. Background of Kenyan Condition

The background of Kenyan condition, it is not a natural disaster but it is a kind of manmade situations especially the political violence. When you look at the natural disasters phenomenon or the risk phenomenon, even from the document of at risk or the CRED reports, it says almost more than 75% to 80% of the disasters are through the political violence.

In Kenya, the primary cause of displacement and disaster is not due to natural disasters such as floods or earthquakes, but rather due to politically motivated violence. Reports indicate that a significant majority, approximately 75% to 80%, of disasters in the country can be attributed to such violence. This concept highlights the impact that human actions, particularly in the political realm, can have on the stability and safety of communities.

Imagine a town known for its beautiful parks and strong community bonds suddenly facing turmoil due to political factions fighting for power. Like a garden that can survive storms if well tended, this town’s peace can be disrupted by decisions made within its leadership rather than by natural forces. The increasing tension leads people to flee their homes, turning a once-thriving community into a landscape of fear and displacement.

So, today we are going to talk about the consequences of the political violence at specially in terms of shelter provision and how it has been organized and how it has been conducted as a pilot project and how it has been scaled up at a nation level and what kind of responses they have you know able to understand.

The lecture focuses on the severe impact of political violence on the provision of shelter for those affected. It discusses how these issues have been approached methodologically, starting with pilot projects. These projects often serve as testing grounds for strategies that can then be implemented on a larger scale to address national needs. Understanding these responses helps in assessing how communities organize themselves and how governments can respond effectively.

Think of a community garden that falls into disarray due to conflicts among its caretakers. Initially, a few members may come together to restore the garden (the pilot project), experimenting with different plants and layouts. Once they see success, they invite the entire community to participate in a larger restoration effort, scaling their methods to benefit everyone.

In 2007 and 2008, after the former President Mwai Kibaki was declared the winner of the presidential elections in December 27, 2007. There has been a huge political clashes and along with various ethnic groups within the country and about 1200 people have been reported dead, almost 5 lakhs people displaced, that is as per the United Nations Office Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs report.

Following the controversial election results in December 2007, Kenya faced intense political violence. This led to the loss of approximately 1,200 lives and displaced around 500,000 individuals. These statistics illustrate the profound consequences of political decisions on public safety and societal stability, highlighting the urgent need for a response in terms of humanitarian support and crisis management.

Imagine a school where a popular candidate for student council loses the election, leading to fights among students from different groups. In the chaos, some students might leave the school entirely or hide in the library for safety, reflecting the way political tensions can create a sense of insecurity and result in profound changes in the community.

So, ideally there are 3 categories of this; one is the first was burning and looting all the shops, commercial premises and houses. So, all these mobs, they come to the city in the urban clusters and they started destroying, burning down whether it is a public property, whether it is a commercial properties.

The violence following the elections manifested in multiple ways, categorized into three primary patterns. The first pattern includes mob violence, which resulted in widespread destruction of properties. This destruction targeted commercial establishments and residential properties, further exacerbating the situation by not only displacing individuals but also dismantling community infrastructure.

Envision a neighborhood once bustling with small shops and vibrant community life suddenly engulfed in flames due to riots. Just as each destroyed shop erases part of the community's identity and shared history, the loss of homes affects families and creates an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty, making recovery even harder.

So, how the government have tackled with the situation, the Government of Kenya’s ministry of state for special programs, which we call it as MoSSP, the Ministry of State for Special Programs and this particular ministry’s mission is to provide the leadership in the development of risk reduction measures and disaster management, within Kenya.

In response to the political violence and subsequent displacement, the Government of Kenya established the Ministry of State for Special Programs (MoSSP). This ministry plays a crucial role in leading efforts aimed at developing risk reduction strategies and managing disasters effectively. The establishment of such government bodies is a vital step in organizing resources and ensuring that affected individuals receive the help they need.

Think of a fire department that not only responds to fires but also holds community drills, educating residents on fire safety. Just as the fire department prepares and safeguards the community, the MoSSP is designed to ensure that Kenya is better equipped to handle future crises, protecting its citizens from disasters—natural or manmade.

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