On 23^rd May 2022, the Commission held an external validation of the Conflict Hotspot Mapping report where the findings of the said report were shared with stakeholders across the peace sector for purposes of corroboration of the data before it is published. NCIC Commissioners Dr. Danvas Makori, Hon. Farah Abdulaziz, Sam Kona, Hon. Eng. Philip Okundi and Hon. Dorcas Kedogo graced the occasion.

Commissioner Dr. Danvas Makori, the Chair of the NCIC Technical committee, thanked all partners in their quest to improve the document ahead of the General Elections. He expressed his vision for a future generation where conducting such an exercise would be unnecessary, since peace would be a norm in the society. With 77 days to the August polls, Commissioner Makori excuded confidence on the ability of the country to witness a violence-free election, attributing it to the enormous work by all peace stakeholders. On his part, Commissioner Sam Kona maintained that the results from the said report is an encouragement to the actors present to step up efforts in their jurisdictions towards a peaceful election.

The NCIC Commission Secretary/CEO Dr. Skitter Ocharo said the aim of the report is to address threats attributed to violence during the country’s electioneering period. According to her, ‘this report will help us prevent any electoral conflicts and the Commission can confidently say that Kenya will go through an Election Bila Noma’.

Stakeholders present appreciated the findings of the report and affirmed their role in contributing to a peaceful election through conducting various interventions at the local level. They included UNDP, ORPP, UCSPAK, RE-INVENT, the National Youth Council, EACC, GIZ CPS, CAJ, MPI-Kenya, KNCHR, NACADA, Global Peace Foundation, NGEC, FIDA-K, SRICK, IRCK, ONUG, Wiper Democratic Movement, Education for Africa and Amani Kibera. The forum was held at the Double Tree by Hilton hotel in Nairobi.

                                                    (Participants listening keenly to the presentation of the conflict hotspot mapping report during the external validation forum)