Friday, May 7, 2010

MANDATE

The Administration Police derives its mandate from AP Act Chapter 85, AP ACT Chapter 128Chiefs CPC cap 63 and &% of the laws of Kenya which spells out but not limited to the following: 1. Protection of life and poverty 2. Detection and prevention of crime 3. Maintenance of Law and order 4. Preservation of the public peace. 5. Defence of Kenya in times of war.

In July 2006, the government of Kenya produced a session paper number 1 on the role of Non- Governmental organizations in sustainable development.This is also in line with the Millenium Development Goal number 8, which outlines partnership as a means of achieving socio-economic development. Due to this, a favorable social and political environment was realized for non-state actors to make significant contributions towards better governance, human rights, peace and justice. SOMINEREC being a faith driven NGO, responded positively to the call for peace and justice in the Rift Valley Province, hence AP/SOMINEREC partnership.
It is generally understood that sustainable peace and security is a prerequisite for intergral human development. Peace Cop therefore exists to propagate the call for peace as provided for within the legal mandate of Administration Police through policy-based partnership with Civil Organizations by applying social research tools and ICT based knowledge in security management. The core functions of Peace-Cop are:
1. Early warning and Conflict monitoring.
2. Conflict analysis, research and publication.
3. Conflict prevention and mitigation.
4. Peace advocacy and Conflict transformation.

Further to these, Peace-Cop Secretariat plays a critical role in advising the Commandant of A.P and the Rift Valley Provincial Commissioner in matters pertaining to Peace and security. This is due to the fact that Peace-Cop enjoys wide networks of both A.P and Civilian peace monitors at the grassroots who provide real time information as incidents occur. Notably, Peace-Cop Programme fulfills its mandate through close collaboration with other government ministries, faith based organizations, NGO’s and private institutions.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Activities of the Project


-To empower and facilitate the communities to formulate structures, operations and community policing units.

-Hold workshops and seminars that will intra community policing units and other resource persons.

-To work with peace monitors and District Peace Committees in peace building process.

-Facilitate peace and character education talks to secondary and colleges students within the region.

-Organize reconciliation and peace forums within Rift Valley Province in partnership with other peace organizations.

-Support traumatized victims of conflict in Rift Valley Province by provision of counseling.

-To collect and publish data on the rate of violence, crime and communicate it to all stakeholders through field visits, radio sets and report from peace monitors.

THEMATIC AREAS

1. CONFLICT MONITORING AND EARLY WARNING SYSTEM

This is one of Peace-Cops priority area whose activities are undertaken by Peace Monitors in all Districts. There are at least 3 Administration Police monitors in every district and selected few other peace monitors drawn from members of the public. Peace monitors normally undergo induction training after selection in order to acquire basic skills on information management, radio communication, data collection, data analysis, conflict mapping and analysis, mediation skills and conflict transformation.

Conflict monitoring is done continuously and the information is shared with and among the district Administration Police commanders, members of district peace committee (DPC) and district security and Intelligence Committee (DSIC). The same information is transmitted on daily basis/ immediately to the provincial commissioner’s office and to the Administration Police Headquarters for further necessary action

Why monitor conflict and early warning signs?

The saying goes well that information is power. From a security point of view security alerts enables the Administration Police and other security service providers to prevent occurrences of conflict either through strategic deployment of officers or diffusing threats through community leaders. Peace-cop strives to provide real time and accurate information and accurate information that leads to quick and timely response at all levels. Peace-cop conflict and monitoring and early warning system desk is supported by Administration Police Communication department which has HF/VHF Satellite and radio communication systems in all districts and areas prone to conflict.

The department has also put in place conflict response mechanisms from District to the Headquarter level. We also have quick response teams at district and provincial level and a fully fledged Rapid Response Unit (RDU) at the headquarters level. The Administration Police Commandant, Provincial Commissioners and the District Commissioners have been very supportive in mobilizing security response based on early warning.

The conflict monitoring desk is currently chaired by CPL David Kibusi Ronoh a trained Administration Police Signaler for and Teacher of Teachers (T.O.T) for CEWARN and IGAD Iniative.

TEAM MEMBERS
1. Cpl. David Ronoh–Team Leader
2. APC. Hassan M. Hassan-Team Member
3. APC. Jacob Ngalitiang–Team Member


2. CONFLICT ANALYSIS, RESEARCH AND PUBLICATION

This is one of peace cops priority area whose activities are undertaken by peace monitors in all districts.Data analysis, research and publication desk is currently chaired by Administration Police Constable (APC) Joseph Lbalanga a Graduate from De Paul University. With field reports, the desk is responsible of generating data and analyzing security situation of each District Quarterly. The Administration Police department uses the same data for quick and long term deployment of security officers to ensure that peace and security prevails in the province.

Through partnership with SOMINEREC Peace-Cop has done a research and published a baseline survey book on conflict monitoring and Peace building in the North Rift Region in 2007 (Tangaza Faith and Science Series)

Conflict Analysis, research and publication Desk

1. APC. Joseph S. Lbalanga – Team Leader
2. I.P Patricia Boure – Team Member
3. CPL. David Ronoh – Team Member
4. APC. Teresiah Koech – Team Member



3. CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION
Conflict Management and mitigation is a process that Peace-Cop that undertakes to prevent further occurrences of ethnic conflict and animosity. Peace-Cop monitors. Peace monitors are responsible of initiating a collective peace process at the grass root level that entails negotiations among conflicting parties led by key leaders within government and public sectors.Peace-Cop advocates for conflict resolution from below that is, participating and also culture sensitive.

The desk is chaired by IP. Patricia Boure a Graduate in Social Ministry and Sustainable Human Development, Tangaza College a Consituent College of Catholicc University of Eastern Africa (CUEA)

Conflict Management and mitigation desk
1. IP. Patricia Boure –Team Leader
2. Cpl. Mercy Syombua –Team Member
3. Mr. Alexander Major–Team Member

4. PEACE ADVOCACY AND CONFLICT TRANSFORMATION
It is very evident that the post election violence which occurred in 2008 has caused detrimental effects to the lives of many Kenyans especially those living in Rift Valley Region. Peace-Cop programme is joining hands with other institutions working for peace in Rift Valley to advocate for peace and peaceful co-existence among all ethnic groups. Peace-Cop in partnership with Global Peace Festival Foundation (GPFF) is promoting a culture of peace by recruiting and training Peace Ambassadors across the province who takes the lead towards national unity. Peace –Cop is propagating Universal Peace Principals under the theme “ONE FAMILY UNDER GOD”. Peace advocacy is undertaken by Peace-Cop Secretariat through the leadership of Mr. Alexander Major, GPFF Rift Valley Coordinator Human Resource Management and Public Relations.

The programme supports grassroots peace initiative undertaken by various groups in Rift Valley, among them:-
1. Nakuru Youth Consultium
2. Molo Youth Consultium
3. Eldoret Youth Consultium
4. Naivash Youth Consultium
5. Kericho Youth Consultium
6. Gilgil Youth Consultium
7. Elburgon Youth Consultium
8. Baringo Youth Consultium


Peace advocacy and conflict transformation desk
1. Mr. Alexander Majo –Team Leader
2. Cpl. Emmanuel Lenayapa–Team Member
3. APC. Grace Mwai –Team Member
4. APC. Nicholas Kipruto–Team Member

Background of the Peace Cops Kenya



BACKGROUND

In the previous decades, conventional security response characterized by robust show of force has been the main form of intervention during and after ethnic violence in Kenya. Unfortunately, this method has neither dimished the conflicts nor endeared the state to the warning local communities. While these communities may welcome the temporarily protective aspects of state interventions, their relationship with the police nevertheless has remained unfriendly.

In response to the ongoing public sector reforms and the generally accelerated democratization of public service delivery in Kenya since January 2003, the AP prepared five-years strategic plan that was launched in March 2005. The overall aim of the plan was to professionalize as well as modernize AP department in order to remain a community-oriented security service provider with focus on development and peace.

The administration police strategic plan of 2010-2013 appropriately understood and interpreted within the expanding democratic space and expanding role of the AP department, peace building and conflict management is considered a core priority area which stands on four main pillars; partners , early warning system, peace keeping and conflict transformation under this priority area, close collaboration among public and private sector is required.

In this spirit of public private partnership, the administration police therefore partnered with social ministry of research and networking center (SOMIRENEC) alocal faith-based NGO, WITH a common objective to address Ethnic violence and other conflict related crimes in Rift valley province. Peace and conflict prevention programme(PEACE-COP) was there started in 2005 targeting the north rift Districts of Trukana, Samburu, Pokot, Marakwet and Baringo.

Through AP/SOMIRENEC partnership, peace-cop programme is using a scientific approach in understanding crime as a social phenomenon and is engaging all other grass root stakeholders in peace and development. So far, peace cop has created a wide social network of both AP and community peace monitors present in all districts of Rift Valley province. The peace monitors are well trained in peace and conflict issues and are able to provide real time information on security alerts for further action by the community elder s and government officials. This synergy between peace cop, civil organizations and the communities in Rift Valley is quite enriching making peace process a profounding bottom-up initiative.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

All about Peace Cop

In the previous decades, conventional security response characterized by robust show of force has been the main form of intervention during and after ethnic violence in Kenya. Unfortunately, this method has neither diminished the conflicts nor endeared the state to the warring local communities. While these communities may welcome the temporarily protective aspects of state interventions, their relationship with the police nevertheless has remained unfriendly.

In response to the ongoing public sector reforms and the generally accelerated democratization of public service delivery in Kenya since January 2003, the AP prepared a five-year strategic plan that was launched in March 2005. The overall aim of the plan was to professionalize as well as modernize AP department in order to remain a community-oriented security service provider with focus on development and peace.

The Administration Police strategic plan of 2010-2013 appropriately understood and interpreted within the expanding democratic space and expanding role of the AP department, peace building and conflict management is considered a core priority area which stands on four main pillars; partnership , early warning system, peace keeping and conflict transformation. Under this priority area, close collaboration among public and private sector is required.

In the spirit of public - private partnership, the Administration Police therefore partnered with Social Ministry of Research and Networking Center (SOMIRENEC) a local faith-based NGO, with a common objective to address Ethnic violence and other conflict related crimes in Rift valley province. Peace and conflict prevention programme(PEACE-COP) was there started in 2005 targeting the north rift Districts of Trukana, Samburu, Pokot, Marakwet and Baringo.

Through AP/SOMIRENEC partnership, Peace- Cop programme is using a scientific approach in understanding crime as a social phenomenon and is engaging all other grass root stakeholders in peace and development. So far, peace cop has created a wide social network of peace monitors comprising of A.P officers, community peace committee present in all districts of Rift Valley province. The peace monitors are well trained in peace and conflict issues and are able to provide real time information on security alerts for further action by the community elder s and government officials. This synergy between peace cop, civil organizations and the communities in Rift Valley is quite enriching making peace process a profounding bottom-up initiative.