Rob Macaire

UK and KENYA: CONFLICT AND SPORT

I spent the weekend at an extraordinary event, the Laikipia Highland Games.  Although I don't usually blog about what I have been up to, this event was very topical to what is making headlines in the country.  It took place not far from where a brutal armed attack had left over 30 people dead less than a week before, in the latest round of bitter fighting between pastoralist communities in that area.  So it was impressive to see an event that was bringing those very communities together through sport, and to see teams from Samburu, Pokot, Njemps and other communities putting their hearts into athletics and traditional tribal sports at a day dedicated to peace-building.  The noted conservationist Kuki Gallman is the moving inspiration behind this event, and I commend her efforts. 
 
But although these initiatives are tremendously important at a community level, the conflicts are too deep and complicated to be resolved that easily.  The state needs to do more.  For example, while we were in Laikipia for these Games, there was a heavy Administration Police presence.  It was very welcome.  But it is a temporary measure, and what will happen when they leave?  Even while we were there, the AP presence didn't stop a gang armed with AK47s being spotted nearby.  And poaching continues to be a serious problem: we saw an injured elephant by the side of the road; three hours later when we came back it was dead, with its tusks cut out.
 
But nevertheless this was an important initiative, and I was glad that the British High Commission was able to support it.  In fact, part of our support was to offer sponsorship to one of the winners, an impressive sprinter and long-jumper called Jacob Kurere, to go to Kip Keino's high altitude training camp.  Nothing would make me happier than for someone like him to go on and make the Kenyan team competing at the London Olympics in 2012.  Sport retains its ability to reach everyone, and to motivate whole communities.  And in Kenya, there are ways it can be used to break down conflicts between communities, be it youths in Nairobi slums playing football or pastoralist warriors joining events like the Highland Games.  We'll continue to support that sort of initiative.

Posted at 07:28 24 September 2009 by Rob Macaire  |  Comments[0]

Kenya and UK: Some thoughts on police reform

Many countries, Britain included, have reached moments when reform in the police service has become a pressing need.  My sense is that Kenya is at one of those moments now.   Security is a real issue.  Those of us who live in Nairobi are acutely aware of violent crime.  In recent weeks I have heard at first hand from people in Central province, in Laikipia and Isiolo, in Mombasa, and in Kisii about the crime problems they face.  And those are just the places I have been.  It's one of the issues that regularly comes at the top of opinion polling about people's concerns, and of course it remains a central element of the reform agenda.
 
We have been giving targeted support to improve the police's capacity in areas like forensics and crisis management work which are critical for security in Kenya. But I'm also glad that we have been able to help provide some practical support to the police reform task force itself.  We've done this, at the request of the Kenyan Government, by providing funding for quality international expertise to the task force - a technical police adviser,  local expertise, the South African deputy chair  and help with understanding oversight mechanisms. We are also supporting civil society to campaign for reform. .
 
The task force has produced its interim report and is due to complete its work soon.  Some have been sceptical, labelling it as "yet another commission"- we certainly won't be providing large scale support until we see evidence of real will to change policing culture.    But let's judge by results    I think there is a pretty strong appetite for serious reform of the police across the political spectrum , and amongst police  personnel themselves.  We'll be very interested to see how the recommendations are taken forward.  There has now been a shake-up at the top of the police, which is usually a precondition for far-reaching reform in any institution.  So let's see.
 
However, I really hope that such moves are not seen as an attack on the Kenyan police.   We all know that they do an almost impossible job, in dangerous circumstances, with very limited resources.  Police reform should be about boosting their ability to do their job, with Government investing more in policing and providing the men and women who risk their lives with a fair welfare and promotion package.  And a central ingredient in that is changing the relationship between the citizen and the security forces.  If the police are trusted by the public, they will have a cooperative environment to work in.  Many countries have found that to be the key in effective police reform.   Part of that is indeed about accountability of the police force, and independent oversight.  But if that relationship can be shifted, so that people have faith in the police to solve crimes, and not to demand bribes or to break the law themselves, the morale of the force should soar.  These are general points from experience around the world, but I believe they hold good in Kenya.  What do you think?

Posted at 09:36 18 September 2009 by Rob Macaire  |  Comments[4]