Cultural Identity: Kenya and the coast
During 2010 and 2011, a secessionist campaign led by a group calling itself the Mombasa Republican Council (MRC) dominated debates about coastal politics. As a result of local grievances, the MRC call for secession attracted a degree of public sympathy on the coast. Debates emerged that potrayed two contrasting images of Kenya: the inclusive nation […]
The Big Barrier
In Kenya, 80 per cent of the unemployed are believed to be below the age of 35. The rate of unemployment in Mombasa, Kenya’s second largest city and home to the region’s largest port, is estimated to be 44 per cent. This raises concerns of how the Kenyan coast will be able to harness its […]
In conversation with Sir Mohinder Dhillon
On 27 January 2017, the Rift Valley Forum and the British Institute in Eastern Africa hosted the launch of My Camera, My Life. In his autobiography, Mohinder revisits his records of events that shaped his career as well as Kenya’s history and beyond. He documents Kenya’s independence heroes and his close relationship with top African […]
Somali Literature, Culture and Heritage
On 7 February 2017, the Rift Valley Forum and the Hargeysa Cultural Centre (HCC) hosted an evening of Somali Literature, Culture and Heritage to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the establishment of the HCC. The HCC was established in 2014 by Redsea Foundation and the Rift Valley Institute with an aim to stimulate the revival of […]
Between Community and the Police
Governments have been accused of using hard power approaches when dealing with violent extremism, to the detriment and of communication and trust between the law enforcement sector and community members. With the recognition that these approaches have failed, CVE actors are increasingly focusing on community-based approaches to counter extremist narratives. On 31 January 2017, the Rift […]
Eastleigh Launch: Impact of War on Somali Men
There has been little enquiry into the reality of the lives of Somali men and male youth following the collapse of the State in 1990. On 5 March 2017, the Rift Valley Forum and the Aw Jama Cultural Centre hosted a panel discussion to discuss the findings of the inception phase of RVI’s Impact of […]
Hustling for Security: Managing plural security in Nairobi’s poor urban settlements
Home to two million people, Nairobi’s informal settlements host the city’s most vulnerable communities who lack access to virtually all publicly run services, especially security. In these settlements, multiple players have emerged to claim the role of security providers, and citizens must ‘hustle’ for security. On 17 June 2016, the Rift Valley Forum launched Hustling for […]
The Peace Process in Burundi
In April 2015, Burundi descended into a political crisis following President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decision to run for a third term, which was seen as a contravention of the 2000 Arusha Peace Agreement. This agreement put in place an ethnic ethnic quota system for state institutions, including the army, and established a two-term presidential limit. The […]
The South Sudan We Want
As the South Sudan conflict enters its fourth year, prospects for peace and stability have not improved. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate with famine declared in parts of the country. Fighting continues in many areas, despite the government's recent agreement for a unilateral ceasefire and the long-standing August 2015 peace agreement. In December 2016, […]
Violent Extremism and Community Resilience
Key points The Kenyan government lacks a Countering Violence Extremism (CVE) policy aimed at finding a long term solution to violent extremism. Successful CVE approaches could include the communities that have been overlooked in conventional approaches—women, families and their communities. The state and media have played significant roles in fomenting cultural, political and religious divisions […]