Category Archives: In the Field

Kenyan security forces have been busy this week with the Inspector General of Police calling for greater collaboration between the public and police, the rescue of an abducted schoolteacher by Kenyan soldiers, mass transfers of police officers due to alleged corruption and the removal of sixty-three senior police officers. Additionally, Muslim clerics, scholars and journalists continue to voice concerns over alleged misconduct by police towards Muslim citizens, especially Muslim youth. Finally, thousands of refugees in Kenya’s Dadaab Refugee Camp have returned home in the last year.

Kenya’s Security – Rescue, Vetting, and Corruption

Police in the city of Eldoret faced criticism early last week for arbitrarily dumping 100 Eldoret youth in Busia town roughly 80 miles away. Meanwhile, the National Police Service Commission announced that sixty-three senior police officers were found unsuitable to serve and were therefore removed from office with a further twenty-nine waiting to undergo another round of vetting. In light of the particularly unstable relationship between police and the public, the Inspector General of the Police is seeking greater collaboration with the public to strengthen their partnership to fight crime. A few days after this announcement, 140 police officers were transferred due to allegations of corruption. In a show of strength, Kenya’s Military Forces successfully rescued a teacher who had been kidnapped by Al Shabaab.

Ochieng, Gilbert and Brian Ojamaa. “Police dump 100 Eldoret youth in Busia town.” The Star. October 13, 2015.

Kaikai, Anthony. “63 police bosses axed from force after vetting.” KBC. October 15, 2015.

KBC Reporter. “Boinett calls for police, public partnership to fight crime.” KBC. October 16, 2015.

Jacob, Elkana. “140 cops transferred from Mombasa Port over corruption, tribalism.” The Star. October 19, 2015.

“Soldiers rescue abducted teacher from suspected ‘al Shabaab’.” Coastweek. October 20, 2015.

Kenyan Police, Terrorism, and Muslim Youth

Muslim clerics, scholars and journalists have expressed concern over Kenya’s security approach to Muslim citizens, especially Muslim youth. After numerous disappearances and allegations of torture, many Muslim leaders are calling for more non-violent approaches.

Mghenyi, Charles. “Use words not force in terror war.” The Star. October 13, 2015

“Muslim suspects face rough justice in Kenya’s war on terror.” Daily Sabah. October 11, 2015

“Kenyan Muslims Decry Injustice.” On Islam. October 11, 2015.

Somali Refugees

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees reported that as many as 5,000 Somali refugees have left Kenya’s Dadaab Refugee Camp and returned home. As many as 4,500 more are expected to return home from the camp in the coming months.

Mohamed, Adow. “5,000 refugees have gone back to Somalia.” The Star. October 19, 2015.

The views expressed by Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Interns are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the IPJ or of the University of San Diego.

News in Review: Nepal – October 15, 2015

Unrest continues in Nepal as protests remain in the Madhesi and Tharu regions, people struggle with fuel shortages and Nepali police forces experience clashes with Indian border security. Despite these moments of unrest, the country is trying to move forward with the election of a new prime minister from the Communist Party of Nepal-UML, who seems hopeful and confident that the government will address the remaining political issues. Meanwhile, Nepali Police and the government are trying to assuage the gas shortages with the implementation of a free bus service around the capital city and one-time sales of four gallons per vehicle until the shortage is over. Trade with neighboring Bangladesh has also been disrupted.

A New Prime Minister for Nepal

Communist Party of Nepal-UML leader KP Sharma Oli has been elected prime minister. India has welcomed the new PM, but promises to ‘wait and watch’ whether he addresses the concerns of Nepal’s minority groups in resolving their constitutional concerns.

Sharma, Bharda and Ellen Barry. “Nepal Elects K.P. Sharma Oli as New Prime Minister.” The New York Times. October 11, 2015.

“India Welcomes Oli’s Election as New PM.” The Kathmandu Post. October 11, 2015.

PTI. “India to ‘wait and watch’ as new Nepal PM takes charge.” The Economic Times. October 13, 2015.

India-Nepal Security Forces Clash

Indian border security and Nepali police forces have clashed recently. In the most recent incident, Indian border security officers are alleged to have dragged a Nepali police officer across the border and thrashed him.

“Indian SSB men drags Nepal Police officer into Indian territory and beat up.” The Kathmandu Post. October 11, 2015.

Shortage Remains Despite Open Border

Fuel trucks are now entering Nepal daily, but still only amount to about 6,000 tons a week, 24,000 tons less than they are used to having. Government and police are trying to combat the fuel shortage with a free bus service in the capital and additional gas sales from China, but so far Nepal is still coming up short.

“Fuel tankers, cargo trucks enter Nepal from India via Sunauli.” The Himalayan Times. October 12, 2015.

“Nepal Police Begin Free Bus Service in Kathmandu.” The Kathmandu Post. October 12, 2015.

Gurubacharya, Binja. “Border between China and Nepal reopens after earthquake repairs; gov’t allows some gas sales.” Star Tribune. October 13, 2015.

Trade Troubles

Nepal’s trade with Bangladesh has been halted for the last two weeks since India is accused of enforcing an unofficial trade embargo. Bangladesh exporters say they are concerned about dispatching goods to Nepal for fear they will be obstructed by the Indian customs police.

“Nepal Bangladesh Bilateral Trade Halted.” The Kathmandu Post. October 8, 2015.

The views expressed by Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Interns are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the IPJ or of the University of San Diego.

News in Review: Kenya – October 8, 2015

On September 25, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta attended the 70^th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). While in New York, he garnered support from leaders of Caribbean nations to amend the controversial ICC Rule 68, which allows evidence from witnesses who have passed away, are presumed dead or are unable to testify orally. Kenyatta is seeking to amend the rule to ensure, as was promised when the rule was passed, that it would not be used retroactively. He believes the court ruling on August 19, in which the ICC trial judges decided to allow the prosecution to use recanted witness statements as evidence against Deputy President William Ruto and Joshua Sang, failed to fulfill that promise. Since that time, President Kenyatta has been pushing to amend the ruling and during the UNGA is said to have won support from the Caribbean nations to do so. A vote on the amendments is expected to take place at the ICC Assembly of State Parties in November this year.

In other news, Kenya continues to struggle with inadequate employment opportunities and benefits and heightened anti-terrorism tactics – with teachers striking for five weeks, leaving students across Kenya without schooling, and the Anti Terror Police Unit making arrests almost daily.

Controversy with the International Criminal Court (ICC)

Kenyan news is rife with controversy over both the ICC court case against Deputy President William Ruto and other Kenyan officials. The President is just one of several people who are being accused of fixing witness testimony against Ruto and other prominent officials. The question remains whether the accusations are true, and, if true, what use Kenyatta has for changing the ICC rules.

International Criminal Court. “Rules of Procedure and Evidence.” University of Minnesota Human Rights Library. 2000.

The Associated Press. “Kenya: International Court Seeks Two Suspected of Bribing Witnesses.” The New York Times. September 10, 2015.

PSCU. “President Uhuru Kenyatta Leaves for UN General Assembly Summit in New York.” Standard Digital. September 24, 2015.

Kasami, Dickens. “Uhuru Wins International Support to Amend ICC Rule.” Tuko. September 29, 2015.

PSCU. “Uhuru Jets Back from UN General Assembly.” The Star. October 2, 2015

Leftie, Peter. “Raila Claims Uhuru Used Moses Kuria to Fix Ruto at the ICC.” The Daily Nation. October 6, 2015.

Teachers’ Strikes

After five weeks of educational paralysis, the Kenya National Union of Teachers (Knut) and the Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), the country’s two largest teachers’ unions, suspended their strike. This happened just days after a Kenyan Supreme Court decision ordering teachers back to work and giving them 90 days to resolve their dispute.

Wanzala, Ouma and Elvis Ondieke. “Back to Class as Unions Call Off Teachers’ Strike Following Court Order.” The Daily Nation. October 3, 2015.

“Kenya Pupils Return After Teachers Strike Suspended.” BBC. October 5, 2015.

Munguti, Richard. “Teachers to Know the Fate of their Salary Increases on Nov. 6.” The Daily Nation. October 6, 2015.

Anti-Terrorism Efforts

In an attempt to quell terrorism growth in Kenya, the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU) on Sunday sought court permission to detain twelve Muslim clerics, who were suspected of radicalizing youth in the Mandera area, for fourteen days. On Tuesday, the court granted the ATPU permission to hold the clerics for five days.

Otsialo, Manase. “Mandera Court Grants Orders for Police to detain 12 Muslim Clerics.” The Daily Nation. October 6, 2015

The views expressed by Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Interns are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the IPJ or of the University of San Diego.

News in Review: Nepal – October 5, 2015

Last Sunday, September 20, Nepal formally adopted a constitution, a process which has been in progress for nearly a decade. The weeks preceding and following that formal adoption have been filled with unprecedented violence, particularly in the Terai which the Madhesi and Tharu indigenous groups have called home for decades. The violence started in early August when the four major Nepali political parties reached an agreement to divide the country into six provinces. This plan would connect the Madhesi region in the southern plains to the Tharu region in the far western plains, a move which the minority groups say will hinder their political bargaining power and, moreover, empower local political elites to overtake their politics and erode their rights. India quickly responded, condemning the violence and closing their border with the country, restricting Nepal’s access to food and fuel imports, while the rest of the international community has voiced continued concern over the violence.

A New Constitution

Passage of Nepal’s new constitution has alienated many of the minority groups living in the Terai including the most prominent Tharu and Madhesi people who feel marginalized and fearful of the potential consequences of this constitutional agreement.

Sharma, Bhadra and Nida Najar. “Plan to Redraw Internal Districts in Nepal Prompts Violent Protect.” New York Times. August 10, 2015.

Haviland, Charles. “Why is Nepal’s new constitution controversial?” BBC. September 19, 2015.

Sharma, Bhadra and Nida Najar. “Amid Protests, Nepal Adopts Constitution.” New York Times. September 20, 2015.

Pokharel, Sugam and Salim Essaid. “More than half a century in the making: Nepal enshrines new constitution.” CNN. September 21, 2015.

UN Calls for End to Violence

The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concerns about the level of violence taking place in Nepal and urged stakeholders to participate in open dialogue.

“UN rights office calls for end of violence and dialogue in Nepal.” The Himalayan Times. September 23, 2015.

India Seeking Constitutional Changes

India recommended seven constitutional changes to Nepal’s political leadership including “delineation of electoral constituencies based on population alone, the right to participate in state structures on the basis of principles of proportional inclusion, to allow naturalised citizens to hold highest offices both at the federal and provincial level.”

“India sought changes in Nepal statute: Media.” The Kathmandu Post. September 24, 2015.

India’s “Unofficial” Blockade

Earlier this week, in response to the growing violence in Nepal, India blocked all traffic flowing across its Nepali border with officials emphasizing security concerns. While protesters are claiming responsibility for blocking some of the trade posts, India and Nepal are still debating who is at fault. India claims the problem is with instability and insecurity in Nepal and Nepal claims India is punishing the landlocked nation for passing the constitution last Sunday.

“SLMM decides to block all entry points to Nepal from India.” The Kathmandu Post. September 23, 2015.

“Nepali minority group blocks India-Nepal trade route.” The Himalayan Times. September 25, 2015.

Anti-India Protests

In the border town Kakadbhitta of the Jhapa district, locals protested against the ‘unofficial blockade’ imposed by India.

“Border locals protest against India’s ‘undeclared blockade’.” The Kathmandu Post. September 28, 2015.

Nepali Government Restricts Transportation

The Nepali government has begun rationing fuel and has restricted the movement of cars to alternate days based on license plate numbers. Even with strict limits on the sale of fuel to personal cars, buses, and taxis, the Nepal Oil Corporation says the country will run out of fuel in ten days.

The Associated Press. “Nepal Restricts Driving to Head Off Fuel Shortage.” The New York Times. September 27, 2015.

Sharma, Bhadra and Nida Najar. “Nepal Rations Fuel as Political Crisis with India Worsens.” The New York Times. September 28, 2015.

Government Talks with Madhesi Leaders

Leadership in the governing parties, including Nepali Congress leader and Forest Minister Mahesh Acharya, UML Chief Whip Agni Kharel and UCPN (Maoist) senior leader Narayan Kaji Shrestha, met with Madhesi leaders including Tarai Madhes Democratic Party (TMDP) Chairman Mahantha Thakur and the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Democratic Chairman Bijay Kumar Gachhadar. Both leaders presented a set of pre-conditions for ending the protests, some of which the government has agreed to and is currently working on implementing.

“Three-party talks team meets Thakur, Gachadar.” The Himalayan Times. September 28, 2015.

“Govt initiates talks with agitating Madhesi parties.” The Kathmandu Post. September 28, 2015.

India’s “Communal War”

While distributing prizes to the second-level futsal championship, Nepal Workers and Peasants’ Party Chair Narayan Man Bijukchhe said that India was starting a communal and ethnic war and trying to disharmonize Nepali society.

“India has begun communal war with Nepal: leader Bijukchhe.” The Kathmandu Post. September 28, 2015.

Border Point Reopens

The Nepali border point at Bhairahawa reopened on Monday, September 28 letting in as many as 40 vehicles including one petrol tanker. Two days later India resumed sending food and fuel into Nepal, but many more hundreds of trucks holding food, water, fuel, and medical supplies were still sitting on the India side of the border.

“Border entry point at Bhairahawa reopens, 40 vehicles enter Nepal from India.” The Himalayan Times. September 28, 2015.

Associated Press. “India resumes sending food, fuel to shortage-stricken Nepal.” The Himalayan Times. September 30, 2015.

Former PM and UCPN-Maoist Baburam Bhattarai Chased Out of Janakpur

Former Maoist prime minister of Nepal, Baburam Bhattarai, resigned from his party and parliament in an expression of disappointment over the new constitution. Following this resignation, Bhattarai went to Janakpur to address a mass assembly of largely Madhesi parties about the failures of the new constitution; however the stage was set on fire, and party leaders Ram Chandra Jha and UCPN-Maoist leader Ram Kumar Sharma were manhandled and beaten up and Bhattarai was escorted out and chased to Janakpur Airport.

“Nepal’s former PM Bhattarai quits parliament, party.” The Daily Sun. September 27, 2015.

Bhaskar, C Uday. “Nepal: Will former PM’s resignation be catalyst for rethink?” The South Asia Monitor. September 28, 2015.

Yadav, Brij Kumar. “Baburam Bhattarai’s stage set on fire, Ram Chandra Jha beaten up in Janakpur.” The Himalayan Times. September 29, 2015.

The views expressed by Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Interns are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the IPJ or of the University of San Diego.

The Westgate Attack: Two Years After

October 1, 2015

On Tuesday, September 21, 2015, mall and Nakumatt staff gathered at the new Westgate Mall in Westlands, Nairobi to honor those lives lost in the attack two years ago. The same day, a few minutes down the road in Karura Forest, where a memorial plaque is placed to remember those killed in the attack, a small group of people, mostly the families and friends of those lost, gathered to honor them with interfaith prayers.

That day, two years earlier, al-Shabaab gunmen entered the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya, killed 67 people, wounded 175, and left the country with a resounding sense of loss and the collective trauma from the event. This loss and traumatization would only worsen as the nation spent the next several days watching footage of the 80 hour standoff as though they were seeing friends, family and fellow residents gunned down live, before their very eyes. One university student at Moi University wrote, “Millions of people watched the media circulate images of the traumatic events that transpired and gripped the nation together in real-time. The Westgate mall terror attack can only be compared to America’s 911 attack…” For many Kenyans, this event changed their lives forever.

Though the personal loss was great, Westgate marked two important changes for the country as a whole: 1) It changed the way the Kenyan government and its officials approach questions of security; and 2) It changed the government’s approach to terrorism.

Towards a Greater Security

Following the attack, two important things changed about security in Kenya. First, it got bigger, both physically and monetarily – with thousands more police and security officers and significantly more money spent on personnel and training. Second, the government started designating many more resources for anti-terrorist campaigns. Today the vast majority of malls and businesses in Nairobi require visitors to pass through several levels of security before entering. One security firm executive said, “In a way it has [boosted business] because our clients have been concerned.”

The every day lives of Kenyans have been permanently impacted. From a walk to the grocery store to a ride to work each day, security, be it administrative or general police, pervades Kenyan Society. This is largely due to a shift in the governmental approach to security. In the first year after the Westgate attack, the government increased security spending by 24 percent and employed as many as 10,000 more police officers.

Understanding Terrorism

Since the attack, Kenya’s security apparatus has refocused their approach to anti-terrorism training. One former military intelligence officer explained that the government has increased emphasis on anti-terrorism tools through improving skills such as, “surveillance, detection, profiling, and what security officers are looking for in the field.”

The increased emphasis on detection and profiling has changed the way police and other security officials interact with the public. One news source wrote, “Proper verification of national identification cards and other supportive documents along the Kenyan borders with Somalia and Ethiopia have been intensified and mandatory to all nationals.” While tightening border security can be positive, civil society groups and human rights organizations have criticized the long-term negative effects of a heightened anti-terrorism agenda and the use of tools like ethnic profiling as a solution to such problems. The Kenya National Commission for Human Rights, for example, published a document this month called “The Error of Fighting Terror With Terror”, in which they criticized the post-Westgate security agenda for allowing massive ethnically biased human rights violations. The commission writes that it “is concerned that the ongoing crackdown continues to disproportionately target certain groups of people particularly ethnic Somalis and members of the Muslim faith in the coastal region.”

Moving Forward

The Kenyan government has taken precautions to ensure an atrocity like Westgate does not happen again. The new Westgate structure has as many as 56 security guards and was rebuilt with no balcony seating to ensure terrorists cannot scale the new building. Beyond these superficial changes, many Kenyans question the ability of the state to keep its citizens safe. Speaking of the Westgate attack and the government’s response, one individual wrote, “Lost an irreplaceable friend and colleague…Kenyan govt has done nothing serious to improve security.” For many Kenyans, while the government has committed numerous human rights violations, not nearly enough has been done to genuinely improve the security situation in the country.

Rajon News September 21, 2015 The Star Kenya September 21, 2015 Voice of America September 21, 2015 The Guardian October 4, 2013 al Jazeera September 24, 2014 al Jazeera September 26, 2013 CNN March 21, 2014 CNN July 19, 2015 BBC September 19, 2014 Daily Mail July 18, 2015 New Vision September 21, 2015 The Standard September 21, 2015 Voice of America September 21, 2014 Tamuka News 2014 KNHCR September 2015 Human Rights Watch September 26, 2013 Open Society Foundation October 31, 2013 Academia 2015

News in Review – Cambodia

October 1, 2015

Cambodian garment workers have been striking and protesting since May, advocating for an increase in their current $128 USD monthly minimum wage.

The International Labor Organization, Human Rights Watch, and international human rights groups have raised concerns over workers being underpaid, overworked, sexually harassed, and discriminated against if pregnant. Moreover, thousands of garment workers have fainted on the job since 2011 due to malnourishment, overwork, and poor air circulation in the workplace. According to a Human Rights Watch report, workers have been ordered to fulfill daily quotas of 1500 clothing pieces, often working until 9 p.m. and receiving only 15 minutes to eat lunch.

Since 2013, workers have clashed with government forces while striking over wage disputes, forced overtime work, and prejudice against pregnant women. In 2014, five workers were fatally shot by Cambodian authorities during industry-wide protests. The firm DC Research recently conducted a survey examining garment workers’ expenses. Funded by the German Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Foundation, and international labor rights organizations IndustriALL Global Union and Solidarity Center, the survey was the first of its kind in six years. Union members interviewed 745 garment workers across Cambodia. Findings revealed that monthly expenditures, including remittances back to families in rural communities, averaged $207.50 USD per person. To keep up with expenses, many workers try to support themselves with second jobs and working overtime.

Cambodia’s 28-member Labor Advisory Committee is scheduled to meet this week to negotiate a newly proposed minimum wage for the country’s 700,000 garment workers. However, the committee’s seven union leaders cannot agree on a recommended wage. Given the recent survey findings, some leaders want to propose a $207 minimum wage, while others are more cautiously proposing an increase of only 10-15 percent. The Labor Ministry’s Spokesman Heng Sour claims that the unions will lose their right to negotiate if the seven members cannot agree on a single proposed rate.

Van Sou Ieng, chairman of the Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia (GMAC), states that the only acceptable increase in wage would reflect the inflation rate, which is less than three percent. He insists that they cannot afford any further increase, given competition from other countries, notably Thailand and Vietnam. Cambodia’s garment industry makes up approximately one-third of its national GDP. He also claims that workers take home more than revealed in the survey and dismisses the survey and foreign involvement as malicious and “disruptive.” Labor rights advocates, including William Conklin, Country Director for Solidarity Center, anticipate that an $80 wage increase will not be accepted, especially when union leaders do not have a unified voice nationally. Moreover, it is expected that clothing brands themselves could best influence the wage debate. Representatives from brands such as H&M, Arcadia, and C&A were in the country last week discussing the wage increases, though no information has been released from their meetings. Advocates are concerned that even if the wage increases, landlords and stores in proximity to the garment factories will respond by raising prices.

The minimum wage issue reflects a deeper struggle in the working class, stemming back to the Khmer Rouge regime. During the regime, schools were closed and intellectuals eradicated, in attempts to achieve a classless, agrarian society. Today, half of Cambodia’s population is under the age of 25 and the vast portion of the working class remains undereducated and holds no professional working skills. Many workers, primarily women, migrate from rural towns into Phnom Penh to work in garment factories. These workers endure long, arduous working conditions, often with the priority to send money back to their families.

Negotiations between government, employers, and unions are slated to continue through the week.

Photo credit: World Bank

The views expressed by Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Interns are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the IPJ or of the University of San Diego.

Sources:

Carmichael, Robert. “HRW: Cambodia Failing to Protect Garment Workers.” Voice of America. 12 Mar. 2014.

Carmichael, Robert. “Pilot Project to Boost Nutrition for Cambodian Garment Workers.” Voice of America. 14 Oct. 2014.

Cox, Jonathan. “Garment Workers Want More Pay to Cover Costs.” Khmer Times. 21 Sept. 2015.

Dara, Mech and Zsombor Peter, “Government Tells Unions to Pick a Minimum Wage or Lose Their Say.” The Cambodia Daily. 23 Sept. 2015.

Mony, Serey and Samean Yun. “Garment Workers Demand Cambodian Government Resolve Employment Issue.” Radio Free Asia. 21 Sept. 21, 2015.

Reaksmey, Hul. “Manufacturers Say They Can’t Raise Wage to $207 Per Month.” Voice of America, Cambodia: Khmer. 22 Sept. 2015.

“Work Faster or Get Out: Labor Rights Abuses in Cambodia’s Garment Industry.” Human Rights Watch. 11 March 2015.

Lessons I’ve Learned – Stories from Kenya

By Jessica Ciccarelli

Nairobi’s streets are wild—an organized, yet chaotic masterpiece unique to this “City in the Sun.” That’s what I realized the day I stepped foot in Nairobi. The smells, sounds and sights all have their own distinct Nairobi twist. There’s nothing quite like navigating this assault to the senses. Imagine, if you can, the smell of barbecued beef (Nyama Choma), garbage, sweat, and nature at the exact moment you are hearing and seeing cars, buses (matatus), motorbikes (bodabodas), camels, goats, push carts and any combination of security officers from Nairobi’s dozen different security agencies holding what look, at least to me, a lot like AK47s. Simply, strangely, I miss this Nairobi chaos.

Kariobangi youth leading goats to pasture

Who am I? I am a graduate student at the Kroc School of Peace Studies that was given the opportunity to traverse these wild streets, to befriend the line where Nairobi’s rich greenness becomes as sparse as the income, and to call it a program requirement for my school. I interned this summer with organizations that live and work in communities which many people—local and international alike—fear entering, and it was in those communities that I fell in love with that beautiful city and its residents. There I became irreversibly interested in the work of the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice (IPJ). This internship with the IPJ gave me a unique and new love that showed me the beauty that can be found in struggle if you open your mind and heart to it.

I had the honor this summer of working with three incredible organizations: Chemchemi Ya Ukweli (Kiswahili for Wellspring of Truth), Catholic Relief Services and Caritas. With Chemchemi Ya Ukweli, I interviewed actors at every level of Nairobi society to better understand the relationship between youth and police. This led me to communities all over Nairobi – from the lavish, upmarket areas to the more impoverished, informal communities. Riding this line between upmarket and informal gave me a depth of understanding around identity I could have gotten nowhere else. While working with Catholic Relief Services and Caritas, whose work is largely based in the informal and impoverished communities, I wandered around the settlements in Kariobangi and Mathare. There, I met countless youth who permanently changed the way that I think about what are considered informal communities and informal employment.

Matatu ni matata – “The terrible matatus!”

I learned a great deal from this internship with the IPJ field program in Kenya and there are many things I will carry with me as I transition this fall from my role as a student of peace to someone who helps build it. Knowledge like the value of local voices that goes beyond meeting basic demands for local buy-in and insists on real, local, grassroots initiation.

Following this introductory post about my work in Kenya, I will be writing a series of pieces dedicated to my experience with the IPJ in Nairobi. In these, I will have the opportunity to share some of the big lessons I’ve learned. The posts will explore four different themes: 1) How the teachings and values of the Kroc School of Peace Studies aided and influenced my practice this summer; 2) How external actors engage with local communities—how to avoid “slum tourism” or “the savior complex”; 3) Youth and police identity in Nairobi; and finally 4) Tribal identity in Kenya. In these posts, I will not only share some of the lessons I learned this summer, but I will also try to show how the methods and values of the Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice are exceptional and have shaped both my field experience and the lives of the individuals I met.

The views expressed by Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice Interns are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the IPJ or of the University of San Diego.

Joan B. Kroc

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Category Archives: In the Field

News in Review: Kenya – November 5, 2015

News in Review: Nepal – October 29

News In Review: Cambodia – October 28, 2015

News in Review: Kenya – October 22, 2015

News in Review: Nepal – October 15, 2015

News in Review: Kenya – October 8, 2015

News in Review: Nepal – October 5, 2015

The Westgate Attack: Two Years After

Towards a Greater Security

News in Review – Cambodia

Lessons I’ve Learned – Stories from Kenya