December 01, 2012 By Kevin Kelley, in New York
US plan aims to prevent Kenya poll violence
Kenya is among four countries in which the US State Department is focusing its efforts to prevent organised violence, the official in charge of the initiatives said Friday.
Kenya was chosen for a US-funded programme to help ensure a peaceful election in March because it is "an anchor in the neighbourhood," said Assistant Secretary of State Rick Barton. He also noted that it is the site of the largest US diplomatic mission in Africa.
Syria, Honduras and Burma are the other countries where the department's Bureau of Conflict and Stabilisation Operations is concentrating its work.
The State Department is currently allocating "a couple of million dollars" for the programme, which will employ at least 50 Kenyans for the next six months, Mr Barton noted.
Kenyans hired for violence-prevention work are key figures in groups, such as horticultural societies, not normally involved in political activities, the assistant secretary said. The US programme aims to give these individuals the capacity to help "reduce the space that negative political players have to work in," Mr Barton added.
Local religious leaders with moderate views are also being mobilised to help avert a repeat of the cataclysm that followed the 2007 election.
Mr Barton echoed acting US Ambassador Robert Godec's comment in Washington on Wednesday that a peaceful election in March is not assured.
Read more : US plan aims to prevent Kenya poll violence - Politics - nation.co.ke
US plan aims to prevent Kenya poll violence
Kenya is among four countries in which the US State Department is focusing its efforts to prevent organised violence, the official in charge of the initiatives said Friday.
Kenya was chosen for a US-funded programme to help ensure a peaceful election in March because it is "an anchor in the neighbourhood," said Assistant Secretary of State Rick Barton. He also noted that it is the site of the largest US diplomatic mission in Africa.
Syria, Honduras and Burma are the other countries where the department's Bureau of Conflict and Stabilisation Operations is concentrating its work.
The State Department is currently allocating "a couple of million dollars" for the programme, which will employ at least 50 Kenyans for the next six months, Mr Barton noted.
Kenyans hired for violence-prevention work are key figures in groups, such as horticultural societies, not normally involved in political activities, the assistant secretary said. The US programme aims to give these individuals the capacity to help "reduce the space that negative political players have to work in," Mr Barton added.
Local religious leaders with moderate views are also being mobilised to help avert a repeat of the cataclysm that followed the 2007 election.
Mr Barton echoed acting US Ambassador Robert Godec's comment in Washington on Wednesday that a peaceful election in March is not assured.
Read more : US plan aims to prevent Kenya poll violence - Politics - nation.co.ke