Kenya: Pambazuka Dialogue Convergence, March 16-17, 2015

Fahamu Africa in conjunction with Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations is organising a Pambazuka Dialogue Convergence in Kenya to critically evaluate the progress of Transitional Justice in Kenya in realising transformation of structures, systems and relationships that precipitate conflicts. As partners we seek to create synergies that will derive practical actions to realise transformational change in Kenya.

As a Pan African organisation Fahamu’s vision is a world where the people organise to emancipate themselves from all forms of oppression, recognise their social responsibilities, respect each other’s differences, and realise their full potential.

We seek to strengthen and nurture movements for social justice by generating knowledge to serve activism, bridging the gap between theory and practice, creating learning for, by and across movements amplifying Africa-centred voices, perspectives and solutions in policy and in decision making processes at all levels and creating platforms for analysis and debate.

Currently, Fahamu is implementing a one-year project titled “Locating Demands for Accountability and Transitional Justice in African Contexts”. The project’s long-term goal is increased spaces for African voices in order to shift dominant discourses on bringing about justice for victims of past atrocities, reparation and reconciliation of communities towards Africa-centred mechanisms of post conflict reconstruction.

We recognise that most of the efforts to address the atrocities committed during conflicts in Africa have ignored certain critical dynamics such as economics, geo-politics and irresponsive governance. Mechanisms and processes have been proposed and implemented to support African countries in “Transition from Conflict”. In essence many have argued that Transitional Justice is a concept that has been influenced by the Western
perspective of retributive justice and that there is need to move towards more inclusive processes that would be adequate for realities such as those in Africa.

Such efforts that seek to address the past atrocities should be opportunities for societal transformation as theorists Harrington and Merry, 1988; Burton, 1990 posit that societies transform if “fundamental social and political changes are made to correct inequities and injustice to provide all groups with their fundamental human needs.” In this regard, transition in African societies need restructuring of social institutions as well as a redistribution of power from high-power groups to low-power groups and transformation of unjust social relationships that lead to violence and conflict among other issues.

For this to be realised numerous spaces for critical review and analysis on the
effectiveness of the mechanisms that have been fronted in African countries recovering from violence, repression and civil war need to be increased. Critical dialogues need to create a convergence of analysis from various people involved in conflict resolution, peace building, economic planning, anthropology, psychology, litigation, governance and
development to shift discussions from only critiques to development of alternatives models of what can work in Africa in relation to Transitional Justice.
What is a Pambazuka Dialogue Convergence (PDC)?

A Pambazuka (awakening) Dialogue Convergence is a safe space for critical conversation that brings together actors who have been working on post conflict reconstruction in several African countries. It analyses the effectiveness of mechanisms and processes that seek to address causes of conflict, justice for victims and reconciliation and formulate actionable alternatives and practical proposals that are contextually sensitive to their countries. The countries that have been earmarked include Kenya, Burundi, Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Guinea.

WHAT DOES THE PDC SEEK TO ACHIEVE?

The aim of these dialogue convergences is to bring social change catalysts together to discuss their critical analysis of the various processes that have been applied to address post conflict needs in their countries. These convergences will derive key proposals for social action for full transformation of the structures and relationships that lead to violence in the countries represented. It is expected that the outcomes of the dialogues are tools for partners seeking to achieve long-term results to post conflict transformation in Africa.

HOW IS THE PDS ORGANISED?

The Kenyan convergence is one of the four convergences that have been organised across Africa as platforms for analysis that move beyond analysis and dialogue to development of ‘actionable alternatives’ that stimulate action at various levels in the countries represented on post conflict reconstruction.
Participants have been drawn from organisations and think tanks that have been evaluating Transitional Justice in Kenya, Human rights organisations, international law analysts, government institutions and academia.

Fahamu is organising this convergence collaboratively with Hekima Institute of Peace Studies and International Relations that has convened similar forums to analyse Transitional Justice in Africa.

Dates: March 16 – 18, 2015, starting 0800hrs

Venue: Hekima Institute for Peace and International Relations, Riara Rd, NAirobi.