4.1 SURVEY OF FORMS AND CAUSES OF CONFLICTS IN MIS
4.1.2 Historical causes
The colonial administrators divided up Africa into nation-states without regard to
ethnic, cultural, linguistic, religious, economic activities and social boundaries.
Against this background, the image of Africa is that of a continent with countries
incessantly rent by historical rivalry and oppositions to the ruling governments.
Numerous movements and rallies that sometimes turn violent have been organized in different African countries, Kenya included (Nasong‟o 2007:44).
Successive post-colonial governments have been accused of various setbacks in
engender conflict in MIS and Kenya as a country are traceable to the colonial
administration. From a historical perspective, conflicts in MIS were due to poor
economic, political and social structures in pre-independent Kenya extended to the
post-colonial period. These structures arbitrarily divided the communities, disrupting
and dismantling long-standing political, socio-cultural and economic relationships.
The structures were mainly laid to enhance British socio-economic development in
the colony (Mbithi, 1975; Waki Report 2008, 20-35).
MIS grew without government approval or planning in the early 1940s. The
successive governments ignored or politicized the planning and the upgrading of this
informal settlement. The communities in MIS felt neglected by the successive
colonial and post-colonial governments. They not only lacked proper basic
habitation plan but also lacked basic amenities which other affluent city estates
have. MIS lacked access roads, toilets, garbage collection, security systems, public
utility land and road reserves (Kariuki, OI, 22: 11; 2010; FGD 2, 21; 10; 2010).
Over time, in the absence of proper planning and essential services, the MIS
residents created their own unplanned demarcations through the local leaders and
evolved their own adaptive mechanisms, sometimes causing conflicts (Kariuki OI,
22: 11; 2010; FGD 2, 21; 10; 2010).
During the interview and FGD sessions, informants expressed feelings of injustice,
negligence, hatred and a minor disagreement would cause a major conflict in MIS
(Kithaka: 21: 10: 2010, OI: 10:10:2010, FGDs 1,2,3). When individuals or
rebellion as a means to change the situation (Jeje 2011: 45). In this case, conflict
advances in form of personal or community interest (Obudho, 2000:3).
MIS sprung as a result of rural urban migration by Kenyans seeking for employment
in the city. Following the emergence of colonialism in Kenya, the colonial
government took away all land rights from the Africans. They were forced to move
to urban informal settlements such as Mathare, Kibera and Korokocho. They settled
in areas considered unsuitable for Europeans. After independence, land was sold
back to Kenyans through various government agencies. But, only the rich secured
land for residential and agricultural purposes (Gifford, 2009:15). Today, MIS has a
population of 180,000 people living in squeezed and deplorable conditions in
approximately three square miles (Kariuki OI, 22: 11; 2010; FGD 2, 21; 10; 2010;
Barman 1990:21-24; Omondi; 2011:31). Residents lack alternative land and housing
hence efforts to plan MIS or relocate the population stir conflict (Kariuki, OI, 22:
11; 2010; FGD 2, 21; 10; 2010). In 1999, the Catholic Church initiated MIS
upgrading and planning project which ironically caused conflicts as the residents
were afraid that relocation would lead to loss of unsecured tenure of their land
(Kariuki, OI, 22: 11; 2010; FGD 2, 21; 10; 2010). Historical land injustices are,
therefore, a fundamental or long term cause of conflict which advances an
atmosphere of hostility from within and without MIS (Barman 1990:21-24,
Onyango and Nyamiche, OI: 19:10:2010; Kenya Land Alliance Report 2006;
KNCHR 2000: 21, Omondi, 2011:31).
Many of the MIS residents are jobless, recent migrants or casual workers (Onyango
live in houses measuring about 8 by 6 feet. These houses shelter 8 to10 people.
Normally, a single room is sub-divided using curtains to create a bedroom, a kitchen
and a sitting room. In most cases, children spend their nights on the floor due to lack
of space (Macharia, OI, 20:10:2010). Since many residents in MIS cannot afford
rent, the default rate per month is very high, leading to tenant-landlord conflicts
(Mwenje, OI: 20:10:2010). Since independence, many institutions have helped to
create housing facilities in Nairobi for the benefit of low income residents. Many of
the beneficiaries are those with access to housing loans (Barman 1990:21-24). Such
housing plans are beyond the reach of MIS residents (Onyango and Nyamiche, OI:
19:10:2010).
The communities in MIS are disintegrated without any feasible traditional socio-
political outlook (Aringo, OI, 11:10:2010). The modern day political and social
institutions are not built on traditional value systems (Njoka OI, 21:10:2010). The
disintegration of communities in MIS has led to conflict (Onyango and Nyamiche,
OI: 19:10:2010). In general, the post-colonial era reveals a deterioration of political
and social institutions such as traditional judicial systems, cross-cultural interactions
and collective responsibility systems (Shorter, 2002). A socio-political institution is
any structure or mechanism of social order and cooperation governing the behavior
of a set of individuals within a given community (Gaitho, 2007). Institutions are
identified with a social purpose and permanence that transcends individual human
interests. They make and enforce rules to govern corporate human behavior (Conn
& Emmanuel 2001). MIS reveals a change of communal relations which affected
traditional ethical systems and identities. The ethical system of a society is
bad character (Tarimo & Manwelo 2007). This situation emerged from lack of a
comprehensible framework of the common vision of life during colonization. The
colonial authorities distorted the African ethical system and replaced it with foreign
concepts and institutions that were difficult to assimilate (Gaitho, 2007). These
institutions have failed to coalesce with local administrative infrastructure through
processes of ethical formation and political consensus (Gaitho, 2007). Disintegration
of MIS communities advances protracted and intractable forms of conflict.
Many people in MIS do not have the basic needs (Mugo, 2008:16, FGD 3, 23:10:
2010; Muriu OI, 24:10:2010, Kirathe, OI, 28:10:2010). The respondents alluded to
the fact that the conflicts manifested within MIS were the voices of the poor
agitating for economic and political emancipation. During demonstrations and
political gatherings the participants carried placards agitating for political and
economic freedom. Politicians would pose themselves as drivers of the economic
struggle of the people of MIS. In many nations, some set of policies such as market
economy, governance structure, education systems and legal practice were
developed during colonialism (Gaitho, 2007:67). These policies have become
consolidated as a standard for local and international engagement (Nthamburi,
2007).
One major historical policy is the capitalist economy which had not been adequately
understood. Pre and post-colonial capitalism in Kenya is thought to have led to
exploitation and oppression of the poor. The latter provide cheap human capital
without equal benefits. This generates great inequalities world-wide (Hanman,
humanitarian crisis. In addition, the rising world prices of the basic commodities
resulted in tough economic times for the Kenyan society. In many instances, the
capitalist society cannot reduce the negative effects of high prices of these
commodities due to the willing-seller-willing-buyer principle. Except for the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Kenya Vision 2030 that developed the
road map for eradication of human suffering, poverty and underdevelopment, the
country has lacked well-spelt out economic growth strategies. Often, capitalists
expand their economic activities with the support of state organs that benefit from
revenue collections (Nthamburi, 2007). The poor can only resort to conflict as the
means of political and economic redemption (Hanman, 2008:22). In this case, the
conflicts took the form of economic and historical injustices. Such are proximate
causes of conflict in MIS today.
Due to the politicization of ethnicity in MIS, communities experience the emergence
and the subsequent inclination of political parties along ethnic lines and regional
cleavages. In many cases, such political blocs are used in MIS to intimidate and
displace the communities perceived as minorities or opposition supporters during
electioneering periods (Njoka, OI, 21:10:2010). Although the minority groups may
endure discrimination for some time, they ultimately find a way to mete out their
disappointments, mutating into violence (FGD 3, 23:10: 2010; FGD 4, 28:10:2010).
From pre-colonial years, MIS is demarcated along political persuasions. This has led
to turbulent coexistence characterized by suspicion. This escalates violence during
national election period (Kariuki, OI: 18:10:2010; KTTF, 2009:16-17; Maupeu,
Katumanga and Mitullah 2005:69). In Africa, Kenya included, political associations
GEMA as analyzed in Chapter One are historical outfits that give political parties
various bearings (Maupeu et al, 2005). These tribal organizations originated in
1950s as social groups when Kenya was preparing to end colonialism. After
independence in 1963, ethnic political associations developed as political blocs.