Defining Moments

There is no singular interpretation over the forces that almost brought
Kenya to a standstill around the 2007 general elections. The ‘truth’
about what actually happened will be found in the in-between spaces of
dialogue and voicing. Somewhere amidst these at times contradictory and
at times reaffirming voices can be found glimpses of what the pursuit of
political power can do to a people, especially in a State where
accountability to citizens is of minimal value. The essays in Defining
Moments capture some of the transformative moments during the crisis
that rocked Kenya in 2007/2008 and in its resolution. These reflections
by journalists, lawyers, political scientists and cultural workers
provide additional perspectives to the relationship between elections,
citizenship and violence.

This book follows in the footprints of Healing
the Wound: Personal Narratives about the 2007 Post Election Violence in
Kenya and Re-membering Kenya Vol.1, Identity, Cultural and Freedom. We
revisit some of the hotspots, the mediation process and ways of ending
impunity. This is part of on-going work at Twaweza Communications to
provide space so that multiple voices can be heard as we seek to build a
peaceful and just society. In the process we hope to show that violent
conflict can be avoided through structural and behavioural engineering:
fix governance, ensure accountability, give credibility to institutions.
anchor justice and rule of law.