- The programme will enable the peace actors to collaborate and work together.
- This will drive peace such that when there are issues arising in their community they are able to approach the issue from a united front.
Image: ONYANGO OCHIENG
The Inter-Religious Council of Kenya has embarked on a peace programme targeting 12 counties identified as hotspots in the lead up to the August 9 general election.
The organisation conducted a series of activities over the weekend in Mombasa and Kwale counties, bringing together the youth and women from different religions and denominations.
The theme of the event was, ‘Mobilising faith communities for common action’.
The aim of the project, IRCK said, is to bring all peace actors together including the youth and women, security apparatus and civil society and faith based organisations.
“We are doing this across 12 counties including Isiolo, Bungoma, Baringo, Narok, Kwale, Migori and Mombasa among others,” said Mary Ndulili, a communication officer from IRCK.
Ndulili was speaking in Changamwe constituency where the Mombasa Youth Inter-Faith Network on Saturday engaged in a friendly football match with reformed criminal youth from the area at the Bomu Stadium.
“The aim of this project is to bring all peace actors together including the youth and women, security apparatus, CSOs and faith based institutions so that they can come together and push for peace in their respective counties,” she said.
The programme will enable the peace actors to collaborate and work together to drive peace such that when there are issues arising in their community they are able to approach the issue from a united front.
She said the programme was being supported by the Uwiano platform for peace under UNDP in the programme transcending peace foundations for peace.
“Because Kenyans practiced peace in the just concluded elections, we are going back there to have interfaith prayers and meetings and other activities. We even have religious leaders conducting community dialogues,” Ndulili said.
She added that IRCK was also looking at ways the youth can tap into the new different aspects of government that are coming in and help them find the youth spaces in the electoral process and the same for women.
“What we basically want to do is thank God and everybody for the peace during the elections. For the youth, we will have a chance to also share what we learned from the elections and what we can carry forward from it,” she said.
Changamwe Assistant County Commissioner Tom Konyelo urged the youth to shun juvenile gangs and any form of violence.
Konyelo urged the youth to utilise their free time to nature their talents instead of engaging in criminal activities that may land them into trouble.
“Keep off drugs especially muguka and bang, they will take you nowhere. Channel that energy into sporting activities and you can make it big like other world renowned football players who all come from humble backgrounds,” he said.
David Mbogo, the Changamwe District Peace Committee chairperson said they will continue walking with the youth to ensure they are all fully reformed.
Mbogo hailed the youth for being peaceful throughout the just concluded electoral period saying they had all demonstrated a great sense of maturity.
-Edited by SKanyara