By James Wakahiu
Government institutions, local universities and the private sector players are gearing up for a major peace conference amid fears of rising insecurity across the country associated with banditry in arid and semi-arid areas as well as political jitters across the country.
There is a three-day national conference that is being organized by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), University of Nairobi, MKU, various organizations of the United Nations and several private companies to be held from May 18-20 at Mwai Kibaki Convention Centre at Mount Kenya University (MKU) main campus, Thika.
Speaking during a forum to prepare for the Second International Conference on Peace, Security and Social Enterprise held at a Nairobi hotel last weekend, Ambassador Tegla Loroupe, President and Founder of Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, decried the culture of fighting between communities particularly in the North Rift and North-eastern Kenya.
Speakers at the pre-conference event, the Vice-Chancellor, MKU, represented by Dr. Evans Mwiti also decried the cycle of violence which happens every year before and after each General Election.
“MKU has decided to make contributions to minimize if not to eradicate the impact of such violence during elections or any other time,” Dr. Mwiti said.
Election related tensions and violence disrupt social security and economic development. Kenya has in the past witnessed post-election violence stemming from highly contested campaign periods and disputed results. Thus peaceful electioneering periods would catalyze social enterprise as well as entrench good democratic and governance practices.
Clashes between members of different communities or ethnicities over limited resources such as water and pasture also remain a disruptive challenge. Cultural practices including cattle rustling often result in internal displacement of the attacked communities and disrupt their social-economic activities. These practices undermine normal livelihood activities and fuel poverty within communities.
Quoting the late Nobel Peace Prize laureate and peace advocate Prof. Wangari Mathai, Dr. Mwiti said when a huge fire threatens Kenya, citizens should not be discouraged but should word like little humming bird which, on noticing that the forest was on fire, would rush to the river and bring back drops of water in an attempt to fight the blaze.
Dr. Samuel Kobia, Chairman, National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), disagreed with the common view that ‘Kenyans live in peace most of the time, it is only elections that divide us’ Dr. Kobia any ethnic divide only really exists when one is in a pressure or power situation
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. “We insist on our own way and if we don’t get our way we are quick to pick pangas and other weapons of violence to settle simple matters. Yet, we need to make a tolerant society,” he said.
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.
