Women have been called upon to be at the forefront of peace building during this election period as they are the main community gatekeepers.
Speaking during the three-day Electoral actors capacity building by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), on Preventing and mitigating electoral conflicts in Nairobi, the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Machakos chair Fransisca Mutinda said women play a key role in peace.
“ It is women who are the backbone of the family, that fact alone should propel them to be peace ambassadors in all they do. As they cook, at the marketplace, in chamas and women gatherings, the message should be peace,” she said.
“ Our historical experiences should help us make informed electoral decisions. Only fools cannot learn from their history."
Facilitating the team, Jesca Otieno of NCIC reiterated that as leaders, it was critical to get out of the box and open up self to innovative atypical decisions and other mentalities while leading a group towards a particular direction.
“ We cannot lie to ourselves that we can maintain peace on our own. That is why we are equipping the grassroots with all needed intellectual property to support peace efforts and to be peace ambassadors,” she said.
The team of 20 peace and cohesion electoral actors are being taken through the Pro- peace intense capacity building to strengthen conflict resolution and peace infrastructures that effectively resolve conflicts and curb electoral-related violence ahead of the August polls.
The delegation comprised of various peace actors from the bodaboda fraternity, youth, women and differently-abled persons who have been active at the grassroots level as peace actors.
The intent of the training is to ensure that before, during, and after elections the community is well informed and all possible measures are taken to maintain peace.
