KENYA: Stakeholders of Radio Waumini in Nairobi, Encouraged to Form Networks that Promote Positive Peace in Society

Sr. Jecinter Antoinette Okoth, FSSA

At a workshop aimed to empower community and faith-based radios to contribute towards social cohesion by mainstreaming peace building messages during and after the General Elections in Kenya, stakeholders and staff members of Radio Waumini in Nairobi have been asked to collaborate and develop programs which promote positive peace in society.

Radio Waumini is a Catholic Radio project for the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops (KCCB) which acts as an instrument of evangelization and promotion of all initiatives and activities of the Catholic Church in Kenya.

During his facilitation to stakeholders and staff members of radio Waumini on Saturday, September 24, Dr. Zac Chiliswa a consultant reminded the participants the significance of social cohesion in today’s society.

He narrated that “Each year across the world many people are displaced through violent conflicts or climate induced disasters hence the need for social cohesion to accommodate all,” especially the displaced.

He added, “In many societies, there is a persistence of inter-personal violence: gender-based violence and domestic violence, while political violence and extremism are on the rise that is radicalisation of ethnic and religious groups,” situations which emphasize the need for social cohesion.

Addressing the Waumini Radio staff members and stakeholders from Alfajiri Street Kids, the facilitator disclosed that in many cases, “conflict occurs when there is no justice at the same time can be affected by culture.”

He highlighted some styles which the society use in resolving conflict including “accommodating each other which is normally short term, avoidance or keeping calm, use of force, compromising with each other and collaboration.”

As he appealed to participants to form networks that promote positive peace in society, Dr. Chiliswa emphasized on promoting pillars of peace which include among others, “accepting the rights of others, having a well-functioning government, sound business environment, equitable distribution of resources, good relation with neighbours, having good flow of information and reducing the level of corruption.”

The radio staff and stakeholders from Alfajiri street Kids agreed on some pillars they wish to collaboratively work on to promote the social cohesion including coming up with programs and activities that promote good relation with neighbours where the teams will meet with the communities and talk to them on the importance of living in peace, accepting the street kids who have gone through the rehabilitation program and also record some music with cohesion messages.

They further proposed building on free flow of information where the Alfajiri Kids will show case and communicate through art work during the upcoming exhibition in October, music, and radio skits.

In conclusion, the participants suggested to invest in the pillar of high-level human capital where their aim is to rehabilitate and empower the street kids and rehabilitate them back to the society as productive human beings.

The workshop is a social cohesion project activity conducted with the support of Stem van Africa in collaboration with the Catholic Media Council (CAMECO), in view of promoting peaceful coexistence of the people during and after Kenya’s General elections.