“The year 2008 became Kenya’s annus horribilis – violence by Kenyans against Kenyans was broadcasted to the world. But 2008 was also Kenya’s annus mirabilis – the year that marked a new beginning shaped by the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation (KNDR) framework. The KNDR arose out of the mediation process mandated by the African Union and was chaired by Kofi Annan as head of the Panel of Eminent African Personalities. The framework aims to prevent a recurrence of ethnic violence, and to manage the transition period between its
adoption in 2008 and Kenya’s next round of elections, planned for 2012. This policy brief explains the purpose and mandate of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), the only permanent body created by the KNDR, and delves into some of the causes underlying Kenya’s election violence. The brief then strives to inform future strategies of the Kenyan government and the NCIC by outlining a series of recommendations that aim to prevent an escalation of ethnic conflict in Kenya in the lead up to the 2012 elections.”
