WEEKLY CONFLICT EARLY WARNING EARLY RESPONSE BRIEF DATED 19TH TO 25TH JULY 2023
1.0 INTRODUCTION
KECOSCE’s Coast Early Warning System uses a volunteer monitoring network to gather data and information about rising tensions among communities which have the potential to escalate to violence.
We are currently operating in the coastal region of Kenya. Supported by diverse stakeholders including both state and non-state actors, the system receives data from the localities which is transmitted via phones to the Situational room for analysis and dissemination to stakeholders for action and/or information.
This EWER brief provides an overview of the Peace and Security situation and proposes recommendations for early response.
Based on the analysis, the report recommends measures for mitigating the conflict to reduce the potential for escalation to violence. KECOSCE produces weekly briefs which are shared with stakeholders including the county security and intelligence committees which are majorly the duty bearers responsible for coordinating responses at the county level. This report covers the weekly period between the 19th to 25th of July 2023.
2.0 KEY HIGHLIGHTS
- Heightening socio-political conflicts and inappropriate use of force by the police in the coast and Kenya.
- Growing concern for consensus talks between opposition and government from CSOs and religious leaders in Kenya.
- Increasing disregard for human life amid heightened police brutality in Kenya.
WEEKLY SECURITY AND RISK SITUATION
KECOSCE Early Warning System received a total of 11 reports (OVER 100% decrease) in the following categories;
- Violence Against Civilians: 8 Events
- Intercommunal resource-based conflicts: 3 Events
WEEKLY SECURITY RISK COMPARISON
CURRENT SITUATION
HEIGHTENING SOCIAL POLITICAL CONFLICTS AND IMPROPER PUBLIC ORDER MANAGEMENT IN THE COASTAL REGION AND KENYA.
- Six people were shot dead and 304 others arrested following last week’s antigovernment protests led by the opposition leader Raila Odinga according to the ministry of Interior[1]. Meanwhile the opposition has maintained that over 50 people were killed by police and government hired goons to kill unarmed protesters at a close range. They also allege the government has directed some hospitals not to disclose the number of victims of the police brutality[2].
- The protests were characterized with several incidences of police-citizen encounter, running battles, looting and arrests in Nairobi, Kisumu, Kilifi and Mombasa.
- Four protesters including the Kilifi county assembly speaker Teddy Mwambire and Kilifi South MP Ken Chonga were arrested in Mtwapa, held for 5 days in various police stations including Kilifi, Shanzu and Port police station before being presented in Mombasa Magistrate Court were released on 50,000 KSH bail.
- CSOs, Human right activists and Political leaders decried the excessive use of force by the police during the peaceful protests in Mombasa and Kenya at large. The police lobbed teargas to disperse the public who were exercising their constitutional rights in Mombasa county.
- The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya has called off this week’s anti-government protests to hold vigils for victims of police brutality. They claim over 50 people were killed by police and hired goons during the peaceful protests in Kenya.
- Four politicians from Taita Taveta county affiliated to the Azimio this week promised President Ruto that they will not take part in the Azimio protests against the government. They are Voi MP Hamisi Chome (Wiper), Wundanyi MP Danson Mwashako (Wiper), Mwatate’s Peter Shake (Jubilee) and his Taveta counterpart John Bwire of Wiper.
- Religious leaders, CSOs and foreign states are appealing to the government and the opposition to set aside their differences and hold peaceful talks to calm down the national tension before it escalates further.
- This week, Kenyans took to social media demanding to know the whereabouts of the former Mungiki sect leader Maina Kamanda. Kamanda went missing for over 4 days before he was produced in a court.