Students from secondary and tertiary institutions in Kenya converged at Machakos School for the Amani Clubs National Debating Championship as the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) called on leaders to tone down on utterances that could jeopardise peace in the Country.
The championship with the theme: Dialogue over division – youth voices for a peaceful and united country drew participants from 26 counties with the aim of fostering peaceful coexistence among learners at their various institutions and beyond school.
Speaking to the Press, NCIC Chief Executive Officer Dr Daniel Mutegi said the commission was perturbed by the recent escalation of utterances among leaders, which bordered on hate speech and set a bad example for the youth.
He said the commission was investigating and working closely with other agencies to bring perpetrators of hate speech to account.
“As a commission, we are working with other institutions to ensure leaders are accountable for their utterances. We are also working with faith organisations to ask leaders to tone down their rhetoric. NCIC is very perturbed by some of these statements, and we are going to prosecute these cases,” said Dr Mutegi.
Machakos County Executive Committee Member for Education, Dr Consolata Mutisya, who represented Governor Wavinya Ndeti at the event, said the Amani Club event was significant because it prepares students for peaceful coexistence with others in adulthood, at home and at the workplace.
“It is a club which prepares our students to be good citizens who will preach peace. There’s no country which can develop without peace,” said Dr Mutisya.
READ ALSO: Amani National Debating Championship to kick off today in Machakos
Eric Kazungu, a student from Machakos School, said the Amani Club had helped enhance peaceful coexistence at the school by encouraging students to embrace alternative dispute resolution.
Amina Musa from Moi Girls High School in Nairobi said the Club had helped them develop negotiation skills and to interact better with other people.
By Stephen Muthini
You can also follow our social media pages on Twitter: Education News KE and Facebook: Education News Newspaper for timely updates.
>>> Click here to stay up-to-date with trending regional stories
>>> Click here to read more informed opinions on the country’s education landscape
>>> Click here to stay ahead with the latest national news.
