The past four days have been filled with musical chairs, balloon games, searching for pumps to inflate soccer balls, dusty hiking pants, potatoes and cabbage, and children’s smiles that lift your heart.
I am beginning to witness how CPI’s strategic multi-pronged strategic programming is crucial for decreasing conflict between these pastoralist communities. CPI’s approach starts with the kids and works its way up to the older generations. This is because children aren’t as privy to the history or pain that the other tribe has inflicted upon their community—aside from the fact that children are less likely to hold grudges and would rather have fun with whoever is nearby.
The end goal of the peace camp is for the kids to find a friend of the other tribe, with whom they connected with during camp. This sets the foundation for CPI’s follow-on activities: “Holiday Exchange” and “Homestays.” The former will be held next month, bringing the kids together again (with parents this time) for another multi-day camp prior to a weekend homestay at the IlChamus friend’s home. Homestays are a key turning point in enabling peace. This summer, IlChamus families will open their homes to a Pokot child, which may have been unthinkable previously.
Notably, CPI understands that friendship shouldn’t be forced. Monica reminded us that friendship “by fire or force” just doesn’t work. I admire CPI for empowering the kids to make decisions for themselves, and prioritizing authentic connection over increasing their numbers for reporting purposes.
Children are excited for camp to begin!
Pokot child leading his blindfolded IlChamus friend through the maze
I found that each interviewee had a unique perspective about their experience with and perception of the conflict. However, a common thread throughout the conversations was that every single person, without being prompted, said enthusiastically that CPI has contributed to decreased conflict between the tribes since they began programming several years back.
I started each conversation on a positive note, reflecting the nature of the peace camp. When I asked Reverend Thomas what makes him proud to be part of the IlChamus community, he emphasized the language, cultural ceremonies, and that everyone has a role to play in society. Despite the history of violence, he is hopeful for the future and believes that one day the groups will live in harmony. When I asked what he thinks caused/s the conflict, which he said turned increasingly violent in the late 1970’s, he started with the “politics system.” Politicians from both sides vie for votes by promising they will acquire land from the other to utilize natural resources like oil, gold, and minerals.
He said that foreign governments and multinational corporations have come in for the same thing. Interestingly, he noted that these resources are not widely known by the general public, so there is a comparative advantage. Admittedly I wasn’t aware of this issue—and will need more info in how this contributes to conflict. However, this is a lesson in itself—new perspectives and realities are emerging for me, and they will continue to. This conflict is multifaceted, and each factor matters.
Revered Thomas and me
Next, I am heading to the IlChamus’ home in Kiserian (in Baringo County) to embark on program #2: a resource advocacy workshop. Stay tuned!
Posted By Olivia Landau
Posted Jun 20th, 2024
8 Comments
Julia Holladay
June 22, 2024
I am so glad you’re experiencing the full gambit of CPI Kenya programming! I found that attending peace camps, exchanges, and more were so helpful to understand the full potential of CPI Kenya’s impact. Keep up the great work, everyone!
Mary Ellen Cain
June 24, 2024
Olivia, it’s encouraging to hear of the great friendship-making work that CPI is doing with the children–and adults–of these two opposing tribes. It’s obviously a delicate situation complicated by politicians, valuable natural resources, foreign governments and large corporations, but nothing can be accomplished without cooperation and goodwill among the tribes. Kudos to CPI for this essential work!
Iain Guest
June 24, 2024
I’m going to play the devil’s advocate and ask how CPI uses the good will created by these camps to build something more permanent, that affects adults and whole communities as well as children. We know kids are curious and unencumbered by history and context, unlike their parents. This is why peace camps work. But how does this create the glue that brings together suspicious communities and puts a lasting end to conflict? Are peace camps anything more that a temporary (if intoxicating) fix? This has long been the big question hanging over this model of conflict prevention. Think Seeds of Peace in the Middle East. Thoughts?
Bobbi Fitzsimmons
June 24, 2024
Do adults take part in any of these games, either with the children or in games for the adults? Working and sharing together is key to cooperation. I’m sure we all hope that the children can transfer some of their own excitement to their parents.
Olivia Landau
July 8, 2024
Hi Iain, I’m glad you asked. I have quickly learned that CPI’s children’s peace camps are not in a vacuum. It is a key building block in CPI’s integrated programming that drives peace between the IlChamus and Pokot (and as we saw with the Samburu and Pokot for 9 years, was it?) It starts with children’s peace camps—which unites children of herders/ warriors as well as their families. This is followed by holiday exchange programs, where a Pokot child will stay with an IlChamus family, and visa versa. Then, CPI addresses their community at large in the resource advocacy workshops, and then specifically targets herders/ warriors in the fora peace outreach workshops. Local chiefs, reverends, women, elders, and often peace ambassadors and AIC administrators are present in all of the above. So, not only through their integrated programming, but also the relationships CPI builds with community leaders make CPI a revered, trusted, and successful(!) driver of peace. I address this in my upcoming blog post, so stay tuned!
Iain Guest
July 10, 2024
OK! Good points. So the peace camps are part of an integrated process that leads from the kids to parents to villages to herders/warriors. No doubt that this model works to reduce tensions between the two sides. I suppose the main problem is that the pressures from the opposite direction – which propel conflict – are also very strong, as we saw in the Samburu/Pokot areas where CPI’s model worked so well for such a long time. When fighting broke out again in the entire region, CPI’s friends got swept along as well. Would you say that the common threat from drought and climate – and the incentive this creates to cooperate – is strong enough to deter a similar reverse in Baringo?
Olivia Landau
July 10, 2024
I personally hesitate to use the word “reverse” since fighting has been sporadic over time, though the uptick we’ve seen in the past two decades. I think collaborating to mitigate/ adapt to shared challenges pertaining to decreasing pasture/ land is a great step- especially because of CPI’s localized approach. But I also think we can’t forget all the other factors at play when it comes to conflict, certainly not just climate. Lack of political representation, corruption present at all government levels, economic marginalization, and potential ethnic differences are just a few other factors that contribute, and play a role in making sustainable peace. .
Olivia Landau
July 10, 2024
I personally would hesitate to use the word “reverse” since fighting has been sporadic over time, despite the uptick we’ve seen in the past two decades. I think Pokot/ IlChamus collaboration to mitigate/ adapt to shared challenges pertaining to decreasing pasture/ land is a great step- especially because of CPI’s localized approach. But I also think we can’t forget all the other factors at play when it comes to conflict, certainly not just climate. Lack of political representation, corruption present at all government levels, economic marginalization, and potential ethnic differences are just a few other factors that contribute, and play a role in making sustainable peace.