On the last 13th of May 2022 in Nairobi together with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) we launched the PRO PEACE KENYA project which will be fundamental to implementing the “Road Map for Peaceful Elections in Kenya”.
Pro-Peace Kenya has been financed by the European Union with €3.5million euro through the Instrument Contributing to Stability and Peace (IcSP) and will be implemented by ECES in an 18 months time span.
The overall objective of “Pro-Peace Kenya” is to promote peace, cohesion and political dialogue and to prevent, mitigate and manage conflicts and political and election-related conflict and violence ahead of the new electoral cycle in Kenya.
The crucial role in this partnership was brilliantly underlined by Samul Kobia, Chairman of the NCIC in his intervention: “We see the value in having this partnership that will help to build a culture of peace”.
Furthermore, the event had also the opportunity to host an important intervention of Katrin Hagemann, Deputy Head of the EU delegation in Kenya, in which she emphasized the importance of a peaceful environment for the democracy development: “there is no development without peace and there is no peace without development”
Indeed, as correctly reminded by Anne Ireri, ELOG Chairperson and FIDA Kenya Executive Director “Elections all over the world should be a celebration of human rights as enshrined in our various domestic laws and international instruments”. Pointing out the fundamental role of democratic elections as a path of peace for the country and not only as a single detached event.
The event had the honour to host the presence of
- H.E Fred Matiang'i, Cabinet Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of the National Government in Kenya, ably represented by the Wilson Njega, Secretary of Internal Security,
- H. E. Ambassador Henriette Geiger, represented by H.E. Katrin Hagemann, Deputy Ambassador, EU Delegation to Kenya,
- Honourable Rev. Dr. Samuel Kobia, Chairperson, National Cohesion and Integration Commission,
- H.E. Erastus Mwencha, Former Vice-Chair of the African Union and Member, ECES Strategic and Advisory Committee,
- H.E. Filiberto Sebregondi, Vice-President, ECES Strategic Advisory Committee,
- Anne Ireri, Chairperson, Election Observation Group, Kenya,
- Harun Hassan, Executive Director, National Council for Persons With Disabilities,
Kenya Commissioners of the NCIC, Diplomatic Corps, International Development Partners including IFES, IRI, UNDP, Chief Executives of Civil Society Organisations, Heads of Faith Based Organisations among others.