In 2006, violence erupted on the hills of Mount Elgon in western Kenya. Thousands of people were left displaced, causing the formation of the Sabaot Land Defense Force, a local militia to fight for land rights. The militia injured, killed, maimed, and sexually assaulted women and girls opposed to the tactics employed by the militant group. The Kenyan Defense Forces quelled the insurgency with a similar level of violence, forcing ex-militia youth to flee into the forest in fear of their lives.
Among those who joined the militia was 33-year-old Geoffrey Taloi. Now aged 48, he is a farmer and family man. Geoffrey is one of 25 former militiamen who received training on peacebuilding supported by USAID’s Safeguarding Democratic Space in Kenya. A transformed man and community role model, Geoffrey’s peacebuilding journey was not easy.
“I suffer from trauma. Initially, I was not a trustworthy member of my community because of my past,” Geoffrey said. “It is not easy to live peacefully when you have seen all the brutality. Violence changes you. You find it hard to forgive yourself and others. Healing is a long process. The most important thing to keep in mind is that peaceful coexistence is worth the effort.”
After Geoffrey reintegrated back into the Soi community in Mount Elgon, he became a community mobilizer. He uses the peacebuilding skills he learned to negotiate with, monitor, and link the clan elders and youth. To date, Geoffrey and his community have reached over 2,000 individuals with messages of peace. In addition to peacebuilding activities he is involved in, he volunteers with the Department of Social Services and supports a wide range of development projects.
Over time, Geoffrey earned the trust of his community. “I talk to young men. I use my own life as an example. I tell them the truth about what happened and how my life has changed,” Geoffrey said. “Many young men have started small businesses and families. They have transformed from ‘enemies’ to peace-loving, responsible members of the community.” His successful transformation allows him to effectively communicate with individuals of a similar past.
“When there is peace, everything is possible. The people need to be empowered to solve their own challenges…. This is where innovative, long-lasting community-led solutions lie. Engagement of those who live and face these challenges in every way, every day can have far-reaching impacts,” Geoffrey concluded.
USAID partners with local organizations and communities to prevent outbreak, escalation, or recurrence of conflict and violence and to enable peacebuilding and stabilization. Peace promotes good governance, socioeconomic growth, and sustainable progress.
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