The Philosophy of non-violence and its application in the management of Kenya's constitutional conflicts

Abstract

The author proceeds on the basis that peace is more than the absence of war. The philosophy of non-violence as a way to achieve vital social change is evaluated.The application of non-violence in addressing Kenya’s constitutional conflicts over the last two decades is then considered in the context of key debates in conflict theory. The eventual triumph of the non-violence movement in Kenya in contributing to the adoption of a new constitution in 2010 also strengthens the case for the use of non-violence in achieving social transformation. The author concludes by briefly considering some case studies from other African countries, so as to provide an assessment of non-violence as a means of achieving needed social change.