Country gears up for major peace conference as elections loom  

Government institutions, local universities and the private sector are gearing up for a major peace conference in May ahead of the August elections.

The conference comes amid fears of rising insecurity in some parts of the country associated with banditry in arid and semi-arid areas as well as joblessness and rising political jitters across the country.

The three-day national conference will be held from May 18-20 at Mwai Kibaki Convention Centre at Mount Kenya University (MKU) main campus, Thika.

It will be funded by diplomatic missions based in Nairobi, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), University of Nairobi, Mt Kenya University, organisations of the United Nations and the private sector.

Ambassador Tegla Loroupe, President and Founder of Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, said time has come for stakeholders to deliberate and come up with lasting solutions on conflicts between communities particularly in the North Rift including Turkana region, northern and north eastern Kenya.

Lorupe at the same time pleaded with the Government to address the draught situation in some Counties saying it’s unfortunate Kenyans are dying for lack of food.

Lorupe said Africa is slowly becoming a Country of handouts, yet the continent has enormous resources. “We have resources in this country, our problem is lack of peace,” she said.

MKU representative Dr. Evans Mwiti, decried the cycle of violence which happens every year before and after the General Election saying, “MKU has decided to make contributions to minimise if not to eradicate the impact of such violence during elections or any other time.”

He said election related tension and violence will disrupt social security and economic development while peaceful electioneering periods would catalyze social enterprise as well as entrench good democracy and governance.

NCIC Chairman Dr. Samuel Kobia, said tribalism is life in our Country urging Kenyans to embrace one another and appreciate our diverse cultures.

Dr Kobia said power doesn’t necessarily change people but it simply exposes their true identity. “In essence, the corruption in our politics, hate speech, and the inclination to tribal division is a reflection of Kenyan society. ” he regretted.

Dr Kobia urged Kenyans to learn from the 2018 handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and unite.

Dr Kobia said the many killings we see over petty arguments at the household level are indications of how uncouth, jealous and unloving citizens have become.

The NCIC Chairman urged Kenyans to take the organisation’s elections Bila Noma roadmap, which focuses on making citizens responsible for peace.

MKU Pro-Chancellor, Dr Vincent Gaitho regretted that Kenya has experienced firsthand consequences of intolerance in several instances, a route that should never be taken again.

“At MKU, we reckon that institutions of learning have an important role to play not only in teaching but also in imparting values of tolerance, mutual respect and embracing diversity among the youths of this region,” he said.

Dr Gaitho said MKU offers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes on peace, security and justice through the institute of security studies, justice and ethics while many other institutions offer related programmes.

He invited more organisations to partner in the preparations for the upcoming peace conference. The theme of the conference is “The Role of Universities, Public and Private Sectors in Peace Building for Socio-Economic Development”

The conference aims to provide a platform to dialogue and address pertinent issues on peace, security, and social enterprise for sustainable development at the global level and especially in Kenya during an electioneering period.

“MKU believes that by all of us joining hands, this conference will make a huge contribution in making not only Kenya but the world embrace peace and tolerance at all times. I appeal to you that we all join hands to promote a peaceful and a tolerant society,” He said.