Peace deal in Kenya

Following the signing of a peace deal in Kenya on 28 February, Oxfam continues to work with displaced Kenyans in camps, and to fund local level reconciliation projects.

The situation

The peace agreement has been greeted with widespread relief across Kenya. It's seen as a first step towards resolving some of the deeper-seated causes of the post-election crisis.

But there are still 300,000 Kenyans living in camps, many of them too afraid to return to their homes. Oxfam is scaling up its work to improve water, sanitation and public health facilities in these camps. We are also continuing to fund Kenyan peacebuilding groups focused on bringing communities together at the grass roots level.

Oxfam's response

Oxfam is expanding its programme in Kenya in direct response to the recent crisis. We are supporting initiatives by grass roots peace groups including PeaceNet, a national umbrella body made up of organisations and individuals supporting human rights, peace, reconciliation, and justice.

Learn more about peace groups Oxfam is supporting

Many of those displaced by the violence are residing in unsuitable public institutions such as churches, police stations, prisons, and schools. We are working closely with the Kenyan Red Cross to improve the basic services available to people in these cramped conditions. To do this we are providing two ‘rapid response’ teams to carry out emergency public health work.

The teams will establish basic water distribution networks and storage capacity, and ensure water quality. They will also improve sanitation facilities and carry out public health campaigns, distributing mosquito nets, soap, and cleaning kits. Each team will provide support to up to 30,000 people.

Stories and reports: Oxfam staff are reporting back on our work in Kenya

In addition to people ‘visibly displaced’, (ie those congregating in displaced persons camps), we believe that many more will be hidden – sheltering with family or friends. More generally, many of those not physically displaced are nevertheless struggling to meet food needs because of escalating prices or lack of supply. Unemployment for people in agricultural and tourist sectors is another contributor to loss of livelihood. We are committed to staying flexible, ready to adapt our response to new needs as they become apparent.

29 February 2008

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