February 19, 2016, the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) meets women leaders drawn from Murang’a, Kiambu and Nyeri counties. The event held in Nyeri town, aimed at sensitizing the women on the need for peace-building, inclusion and tolerance. Speaking at the forum, the NCIC’s Vice Chairperson, Commissioner Irene Wanyoike urged the women to embrace people from other communities and learn positive things from them. “You have to learn from the women in Kisumu, Mombasa and all other regions, as they learn from you so as to promote cohesion,” she said. “You have a role to play and you must inspire your families to promote peace.” She added.

Also attending the workshop was Commissioner Belinda Ochiel who encouraged the women to be at the forefront in solving societal conflicts through mediation. “The women should take up mediation roles and not leave it for men as it is now. We can be good mediators to avert conflict and violence in the society. I know we can do it, let’s rise up and take our leadership positions,” said Commissioner Belinda as she urged the women leaders to partner with the NCIC in its peace-building efforts.

Conflict between people and wild animals is one of the main threats to the continued survival of many species of wildlife in different parts of the world. This is also a significant threat to the human population.

Kenya is a no exemption, and has experienced numerous incidences of human-wildlife conflicts. If solutions to such conflicts are not quickly found, local support for conservation would decline. As a major stakeholder in peace-building, the Commission participated in a human-wildlife conflict forum held on 9th April, 2016 at Voi Safari Lodge.

The aim of the forum was to discuss ways of mitigating the human-wildlife conflict in the county. Speaking at the forum, the Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Prof. Judith Wakhungu said that the park had three aircrafts that undertook daily surveillance to monitor activities around the park. “This has mitigated human-wildlife conflict as it provides information about wildlife roaming out of the park,” she said. “The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has hotlines for swift communication on conflict cases. Barriers and fences have also been constructed in target hotspots of human-wildlife conflict,”

she added. In her concluding remarks, she noted that there was need for more construction of water pans, earth dams and electric fences, as well as review of population increase levels in the area.

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission, with the understanding of the greater need to create a culture of sustainable peace and conflict free environment, has continuously engaged young people through various platforms on peace-building.

In one such form, the Commission interacted with student leaders from Taita Taveta County during a leaders’ conference held on 7th April 2016 at Dr. Aggrey High School, Wundanyi. The conference brought together a total of 400 student leaders drawn from across the county.

Themed ‘Re-evaluating value systems in our youth for social transformation’, the conference provided a good opportunity for the leaders to be sensitised on the NCIC mandate, community leadership and the need to prioritise leadership that supports national values and development.

The youth were urged to “BE THE CHANGE” by changing their attitudes towards people, traditions, religion and believes, and learning to combine their enthusiasm with patience, realising the importance of living together, as well as being responsible to defend the frontiers of peace and non-violence.

Cultural performances were all the range of this year’s Kenya National Drama Festival. The Commission participated in the 57th edition of the festival that was held in Meru County from 5th to 13th April 2016. The guiding theme was “Developing Artistic Talents for National Development”.

The Commission used this platform to sensitise Kenyans on national peace-building processes, cohesion and integration. This year’s theme served to foster willingness of the young people to use their abundant artistic talents to develop the nation. It underscored values of resilience and self-regulation among Kenyans, particularly among the youth.

The event therefore, provided a suitable platform to facilitate appreciation of national diversity by promoting tolerance, understanding and peaceful co-existence. The performances were held at Meru School, Kaaga Boys, Kaaga Girls and the Kenya Methodist University. The state concert for the beat performances was later held in Sagana State Lodge in Nyeri County on 15th April 2016.