Peace Direct’s Rapid Response Funds are deposits of money entrusted to local peacebuilders. By having funds in position on the ground peacebuilders can react immediately to conflict flashpoints. As violence erupts every second can be crucial in containing the fall out.

Rapid Response Funds in action

Location: Laikipia district, Rift Valley, North Kenya

Date: January 2008

Context: Disputed election results in December 2007 leave Kenya in freefall - riots break out and ethnic killings escalate.

Day One, 2.a.m

The Laikipia district is home to sixteen different ethnic clans. Late at night a group of young men from the Kikuyu clan steal cattle from a neighbouring Turkana village. On their way home they are caught by Turkana men, a fight breaks out and one of the Kikuyu is killed.

Day One, 6.a.m

In the morning news of the death spreads and distorts around the Kikuyu village. The killing is retold as an unprovoked attack and seen as a declaration of open hostility against the Kikuyu’s.

Day One, 5.p.m

That afternoon men from the Kikuyu village raid the Turkana village. Three Turkana are killed and six houses burnt.

Day Two – Day Seven

Violence spreads rapidly; each of the sixteen ethnic groups becomes embroiled in taking. The conflict takes on a cycle of revenge attacks and reprisals. Misinformation, rumours and racial incitement intensify. The local administration is overwhelmed by the escalation in violence and is powerless to intervene.

Day Eight

In just eight days thirty people are killed and two hundred and forty seven houses burnt. People flee their villages as the violence spirals out of control.

Day Nine 9 a.m.

The Kenyan Rapid Response Fund is contacted by Jackson Machomba and David Kosgei, former chairs of the Laikipia district council. They have been working tirelessly to prevent the spread of conflict with few resources.

Day Nine 11 a.m.

The Rapid Response Fund releases David and Jackson 5,000 shillings (£40) so they can contact each clan elder and open up a dialogue.

Day Nine 11 p.m.

Every elder is contacted and agrees to a meeting the following day.

Day Ten 9 a.m.

The elders gather in a neutral space and slowly the facts of the conflict transpire. The rumours and racial propaganda that fuelled so much of the violence are exposed.

Day Ten 10 p.m.

The elders commit to preventing further bloodshed and elect to visit every single village in the region to call for a ceasefire.

Day Eleven to Twenty Five

The Rapid Response Fund gives the elders 20,000 shillings (£200) to pay for transport to every village. In each community a baraza (public gathering) is held. The ceasefire is explained and the community urged to stop the cycle of revenge killings. Local police are mobilized to disarm people and help bury the dead.

Day Twenty Six to Now

The violence ceases and displaced people return home. The elders continue to work together to make sure the peace holds. Over the coming months cultural events are planned including a peace torch parade through every village and an evening of song and dance to celebrate each clan’s unique heritage.

In conflict every second counts. Eight days is all it took to embroil a whole district in violence. Thanks to our Kenyan Rapid Response Fund there was money ready on the ground allowing an intervention to happen quickly. £240 was all it cost to bring the bloodshed and destruction in Laikipia to a halt and save countless people’s lives.