The government of Kenya has reaffirmed its support for the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and its Council of Eminent Personalities’ push for peace in the troubled Horn of Africa.
Kenya also called for the inclusion of women in the process, which is a vital force for peace in a region battered by conflict and insecurity.
Speaking during the IGAD Regional Forum for Eminent Personalities and Leaders for Peace in Nairobi, Gender, Children, and Social Protection CS Hannah Cheptumo called on IGAD to endorse a bold new initiative aimed at embedding women and youth at the core of peacebuilding efforts in the region.
She urged regional leaders to invest in collective wisdom to achieve sustainable peace.
She said women and youth are key agents of preventive diplomacy and must be included in Track II mediation and reconciliation processes.
“In our IGAD region, conflict has fractured families, displaced communities, and eroded hope.
“Yet throughout our history, women and young people have consistently emerged as agents of preventive diplomacy,” she said.
Cheptumo represented Deputy President Kithure Kindiki at the forum.
The CS noted that Kenya has made significant strides through its gender-inclusive policies, with the country’s 2019 National Policy on Gender and Development and its Constitution’s two-thirds gender rule as key milestones.
She said Kenya also enforces strong laws such as the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act and the Sexual Offences Act.
Cheptumo further proposed a regional framework that would create a roster of credible mediators, including senior women and men, youth, and elders, who would be trained and mentored to take part in peace efforts.
“Picture with me modular, gender-sensitive training in negotiation, psychosocial support, and trauma-aware facilitation, delivered from capital to village. This is how we build a network of preventive diplomacy practitioners.”
Foreign Affairs, Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei, said the forum comes at a critical time for the Horn of Africa.
“Our region is grappling with profound peace and security challenges, and Kenya is honoured to host this important forum,” he said.
Sing’Oei, who represented Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, stated that the Horn of Africa is facing interconnected crises, including protracted conflicts, security threats, and humanitarian disasters exacerbated by climate change.
He warned that traditional diplomacy alone is not enough to resolve such challenges.
“The role of Eminent Personalities is critical. They are trusted interlocutors, uniquely positioned to mediate, build confidence, and encourage dialogue.”
Kenya, he said, believes that sustainable peace requires inclusive dialogue and addressing the root causes of conflict.
He noted that the Council of Eminent Personalities could help bring attention to issues like inequality and exclusion, which often go unaddressed in official negotiations.
The PS urged IGAD to establish a clear framework for how the Council should operate.
Sing’Oei emphasized that peace is not just a security issue, but a foundation for development.
“IGAD’s vision of economic integration and resilience to climate change cannot materialise in an environment of insecurity,” he said.
Kenya pledged continued support for IGAD’s peace work and the strategic deployment of its Council of Eminent Personalities
