Open AccessThe rise of a mediated state in northern Kenya: the Wajir story and its implications for state-building
Author(s) -
Ken Menkhaus
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
avrug-bulletin/afrika focus
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 0772-084X
pISSN - 0772-0793
DOI - 10.21825/af.v21i2.17754
Subject(s) - state (computer science) , kenya , general partnership , state building , government (linguistics) , political science , failed state , civil society , corporate governance , public administration , political economy , sociology , politics , law , management , economics , linguistics , philosophy , algorithm , computer science
In an anarchic corner of northern Kenya in the mid-199os, a collection oflocal non-state actors led by a women's market group created an umbrella movement that came to establish an impressive level of peace and security across an entire region. The Kenyan government forged a formal relationship with this group in Wajir, essentially sub-contracting out important functions oflocal government to local civic leaders, and using its partnership with the Wajir group as a template for similar state-sanctioned governance arrangements in other troubled border areas of the country. The Wajir story is examined in this article as an example of a "mediated state" approach to rebuilding rule oflaw through non-state actors in a conflict and post-conflict setting. Key words: mediated-state, state-building, civil society, peace-building,failed state, northern Kenya