By Andanje Wakhungu
The leadership of Friends Quaker Schools in Kenya has urged their students to uphold the rule of law and keep peace at all times while in school.
While addressing students from Kakamega’s Quaker sponsored schools during the Malava Yearly Meeting (MYM) conference, National Secretary Benjamin Nasikungu stated that the peace conference was important and timely noting that the country was currently recovering from political turbulence.
The annual event saw 17 out of 35 schools from Malava, Chevaywa (Matete) and Lugari sub counties bring on board 457 students.
Mr Nasikungu stated that emotions were still high countrywide hence the need to preach peace and tranquility as students were prone to fall victims of any unrest with their education calendar being disrupted.
He called on the school managers and teachers to engage the students in positive activities that will dispel unnecessary tension as they look forward to resumption of the normal academic calendar starting January 2023.
“Covid-19 disrupted our education programmes and we are working around the clock to catch up. It will be a huge set back if our politics also interferes with not only our safety but learning process, and it is the students and parents who are going to bear the brunt of it all. That is why as Quaker schools we are preaching peace all over our institutions and churches,” said Mr. Nasikungu.
The MYM Education Secretary Masayi Mwalati commended the meeting adding that it was important for the students to interact and exchange ideas on various issues affecting them and also come together for the common goal of praising God.
“This conference should be embraced because it gives opportunity for schools to interact with each other and uplift their spiritual and moral standards and diffuse any kind of unrest the students could be undergoing. We are calling upon each school within the area to start embracing this conference whenever it comes up as it will go a long way to instill discipline in our youngsters and make them better leaders of tomorrow,” he said.
He asked the students to learn how they can live with each other despite their differences and be role models and peace makers.
The Friends Quaker Church presiding clerk Dr. Harrison Kavingwa stated that it was important for peace programmes to be initiated in schools noting that past incidences of school unrest happened due to lack of proper guiding, counseling and spiritual nourishment to the students.
“As Friends Quaker church, we are determined to ensure our schools prosper and that is why some of us have been undertaking advanced studies in counseling psychology and conflict resolutions management to be able to bring peace in our institutions including schools, churches and homes,” said Dr. Kavingwa.
He added: “Let us encourage our students to come to church, pray and praise God in the way they deemed appropriate without barricading them. As you have seen today they have displayed exemplary talents, so let us nurture and uplift them spiritually and also motivate them for the good work showcased here as they strive for a common strategy which is peace.”
