Climbing the Journey to Successful Peacebuilding in Africa through the Public Participation Model: Lessons for the Tana River Conflict, Kenya

The Cold War, an ideological war between the United States of America (USA) and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), which started in 1945 and ended in the 1990s, posed numerous threats to peace and security not only in Africa but to all third-world countries. These threats jeopardised the Cold War era, during which political leaders from the northern hemisphere were hoping for a new world order, a world in which there would be peace, stability, and social order. Instead, the era has been characterised by various protracted internal armed conflicts. These conflicts have included socially violent protests, xenophobic attacks, and post- election violence. For example, the local conflict in Tana River County, Kenya, has resisted any sort of peacebuilding model and keeps recurring over and over again in the region. This study sought to explain the role of a public participation model in peacebuilding with reference to the Tana River conflict. The study adopted a qualitative methodology with a document analysis approach to arrive at these assertions. It found that the use of the public participation model in peacebuilding can promote inclusivity, address broken relationships and communication breakdowns, and build a culture of peace. It serves as a foundation for laying out community reconciliation that heals grievances and trauma, builds trust, and fosters healthy relationships. The study recommends that the Kenyan government and stakeholders understand the benefits of the public participation model and apply it to the conflict.