Fredrick Odiero
The Kisumu County Government in conjunction with partners will towards the end of the year hold a peace bonanza aimed at sensitizing its residents on the need to uphold peace during the forthcoming general elections.
The city Manager Mr. Abala Wanga said the festival will be held from 21st to 24th December 2021.
Speaking at the Mama Grace Onyango Arts and Cultural Centre in Kisumu, Wanga said that the festival will target youth groups from the informal areas.
Wanga said politicians have been using youths to propagate their evil and selfish interests during electioneering periods.
The city manager said that youths should shun violence during the 2022 general elections where politicians find them in handily, in a position to use them.
He called upon youths to take part in peaceful activities and preach the spirit of co-existence.
Wanga who was accompanied by Centre Manager Aketch Obat Masira and the Director of Peace Maker’s Corps Foundation Kenya Professor Fredrick Ogenga said that more partners should come in and promote peace ahead of the next polls.
He said during the festival dubbed ‘Karibu Kanaan’ which featured arts and music to convey the message that peace is not easily won that all should come together to foster the same.
Wanga said Kisumu bore the brunt of the 2007/008 post elections violence and urged residents not to go the same way.
The city manager said art and culture plays an integral role in promoting cohesion and integration among the populace.
Prof. Ogenga who is a lecturer at Rongo University told the participants that the vision of the group is to inspire local youth peace builders with the message that peace is in their hands.
The don said that their vision is anchored on the need to nurture an everyday culture of non-violence through art, music and film acting and the creative arts.
Ogenga indicated that they want to engage young people through engagements and national cohesion programs such as conflict research, peace literacy for arts and fellowships.
“We hope that what we are doing in Kisumu will trickle to other areas such as Kayole, Kibira and others parts of the country,” he said.
He said Kanaan helps Kenyans move from negative peace which he noted is fragile and merely translates to absence of conflict to positive peace which is visible and active, transcending individual community and national dynamic.
Prof. Ogenga was also accompanied by Dr. Monica Gurca who is also a director at the peace corps indicated that the event will be held annually in collaboration with Mama Grace Onyango Social Center that has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Peace Maker’s Foundation Kenya, a coalition member.
He said the festival will be part of Kisumu city’s calendar of activities and will therefore be implemented with the support of town and the county government.
Ogenga said the concept is informed by the historical problem of electoral violence in Kenya that required urgency and is designed as a launching pad towards the 2022 elections and beyond.
