Today, many young people find themselves involved in violent extremist acts such as terrorist activities in the country.
Even during times of turmoil in the country such as post-election chaos, young people are usually the perpetrators of violence.
Search for Common Ground, an organisation that advocates for non-violence, organised a workshop to discuss ways of engaging the youth in keeping the peace.
The workshop held at the Mash Park Hotel in Nairobi on Tuesday brought together religious leaders, peacebuilders, and state actors to discuss ways the youth can be disengaged from participating in violence.
Rose Mbone, a peacebuilder, said that ambassadors of peace should work on engaging the youth widely to reach them with the message of peace.
"Youth in urban areas should also be engaged on peace matters because peace is not just a thing marginalised areas as far as West Pokot for example, need to know about," she said.
RISE OF GANGS
She stated that urban areas today have issues such as the rise of gangs and the youth need to be sensitised to prevent them from getting involved in such activities.
Daniel Kirui, the Regional Coordinator for Youth Development in Nairobi, said that there is a great need to involve youth in all decision-making processes on peace.
"The youth's input into peace-keeping decision making is very vital because they themselves know what leads them into violence," he said.
He proposed that young people’s issues be mainstreamed into various sectors of the government to ensure more participation of the youth.
“Youth leadership positions should be meant for the youth, and we should advocate for the youth to get those positions.”
As young people are encouraged to drop arms and stop engaging in violence, the question arises of what they should engage in besides violence.
Gilbert Onyango, the Peace Coordinator for Nairobi, Office of the County Commissioner said the state, religious leaders, and peacebuilders should give the youth alternatives to spending time engaging in violence.
Onyango added that some of these young people depend on these acts to make money and if disarmed, an alternative should be put in their hands.
MENTAL HEALTH
He also asked all the peace actors not to neglect the youth’s mental health as it played a big part in their participation in violence.
"Sometimes, the easiest way to disengage them from joining these groups is by talking to them to know what they are going through,” he said.
Search for Common Ground hope that by training religious communities and peacebuilders to be increasingly active in the civic space, then more information will reach the youth and stop them from joining extremist groups.
They will be holding similar workshops across Mombasa, Kwale, Kilifi, Lamu, Garissa, Isiolo, Kakamega, Migori, Nakuru, Nairobi, Nyeri, Tana River, and Taita Taveta counties in the next 56 months.
Edited by D Tarus
