The Aftermath of the 2007/08 Post-Election Violence in Kenya and the Role of Religion

Abstract

War, violence and conflicts are the biggest hiccups to human development to date. In spite of the numerous calls for justice, reconciliation and peace as prerequisites for a stable society, political, religious and ethnic conflicts continue to hit many parts of the world. Africa is possibly the most affected continent by this anguish as some of her nations and people have not known peace for decades. In Kenya, for example, although there have been many conflicts since independence (1963), it was the 2007/2008 Post-election violence that proved rather challenging as its effects are felt to date. The disputed Presidential election results plunged the county into a serious crisis whose effects continue to wreck the country socially, politically and economically. For instance, memories of this conflict where many lives were lost, families displaced, women and girls suffered sexual violence and property destroyed reappear any time we have a national election, and this has seriously disintegrated the nation, thus affecting the development of the country as a whole. It is therefore an issue that must be seriously thought about by all stakeholders if at all any sustainable development has to be attained. In this regard, religion which still remains the most trusted institution in Kenya as in other parts of Africa must not stand at the periphery. Religion is the conscience of the society and as such the dominant religions in Kenya, namely Christianity (82.5%) and Islam (11%), have an indelible responsibility of bringing forth justice, peace and reconciliation among individuals and communities in Kenya so as to ensure that the country attains sustainable development.