So, what does ‘local’ mean in Narok County? The word conjures localized triggers and responses that form the basis of many of the conflicts in Narok County. It also marks the exact spot where efforts get stuck and the biggest attitudinal and structural stumbling block—the fight to exercise or reclaim agency.
During my assignment as a Peace Monitor in Narok, one bottomline conflict issue constantly affecting the region was the clash between government insiders and the local community over the real situation on the ground vis-a-vis the intentions of the government. The opposing views and approaches of these two groups made Narok more volatile and challenged peacebuilding interventions. This situation made the ‘All-of-government all-of-society’ peacebuilding framework into a cliché with the addition of ‘localization’ as a new buzzword. In my work with people and structures at the grassroots or ‘local’ level in Narok between 2010-2016, this phrase underlied notable successes in situating peacebuilding practice and most significant contributions towards peacebuilding in Kenya. It became a template for many others that followed.
This blog is part of CDA’s From Where I Stand series, designed to listen to people most affected by aid as they explore and amplify their leadership experiences, stories, and lessons for the aid sector.
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