Creative arts and expression have been touted as one of the surest ways to address challenges facing communities as well as promote peace in the country among the young generation.
Youths in the country, especially students in secondary, tertiary, and higher learning institutions, have been identified as key agents of social cohesion among communities through creative arts and storytelling, tools that have proven effective in bridging societal and communal gaps that often cause disunity among regions and communities.
This was revealed during the culmination of a nine-month programme by a non-governmental organisation dubbed Narrative 4, designed to foster social cohesion and tolerance among Kenyan youth through storytelling and creative expression.
The programme, which was unveiled in 40 secondary schools in Nairobi and Mombasa in September last year, has seen more than 800 secondary school students equipped with skills to become compassionate leaders in their communities.
The programme comes at a time when youths continue to be engaged as advocates of peace and national cohesion as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.
Narrative 4 Director of Africa Operations Buchi Onyegbule said the programme is designed to equip youngsters with crucial skills that will enable them to provide solutions to challenges facing their communities, while also building bridges among communities in the country to further promote peaceful and harmonious relations.
The director noted that beneficiaries of the programme are using creative arts and storytelling to understand one another and build stronger communities, adding that when students’ voices are heard, they have the power to change the world.
“A new generation is shaping a more united and compassionate Kenya,” he said.
He noted that the young generation plays a pivotal role in the socio-economic development of their communities and the country at large, adding that preparing them to become agents of peaceful coexistence and compassionate leadership will safeguard the country’s future.
Buchi at the same time reiterated that the organisation will partner with the government, following the success of the pilot project, to expand the programme’s scope to more schools across the country.
Ishmael Beah, an international author renowned for books including A Long Way Gone and Memoirs of a Boy Soldier, who was the chief guest at the event, noted that storytelling has a unifying power that can be exploited to build strong and peaceful bonds among communities.
“Stories allow people to walk in each other’s shoes and see each other’s humanity — to acknowledge and recognise each other’s differences in a deeper way. This is what is missing in our communities, countries, and the entire world,” he said.
Narrative 4 works in six African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Zambia, and South Africa. Some 42,808 students took part in Narrative 4 programmes across the continent in 2025.
The organisation works in schools and universities, engaging young people in initiatives aimed at making positive changes in their communities.
The project is supported by Creative Visions and Students Rebuild through Unique & United, a global year-long initiative inviting youth aged between 5 and 20 from around the world to use creative expression as a force for unity and positive community impact.
“Through mentorship and guided creative programming, the young people will continue developing their creative leadership skills in the coming months. Students in the 40 participating schools are set to join Narrative 4’s continent-wide Cities School Challenge, aimed at building creative solutions to local challenges and creating stronger communities,” Buchi said.
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Kenyan students Shammah Zulema of Kongoni Secondary School and Timon Gitau of The Nairobi School welcomed the programme, saying it is playing a crucial role in changing their mindset and moulding them into peace-builders and change-makers in society.
By John Kamau
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