European Centre for Electoral Support & NCIC launch Pro-Peace Kenya

As Kenya prepares for the August 9th General Election, more organizations and institutions are doing their level best to ensure that the upcoming elections are held in a peaceful atmosphere. The latest effort was the launch of #ProPeaceKenya project also known as #ElectionsBilaNoma by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) at the Radisson Blu Hotel In Nairobi.

The “Pro-Peace Kenya” is a project for the Promotion of Peace and Cohesion in Kenya by Preventing and Mitigating Electoral Conflicts, dubbed “Uchaguzi Bila Noma 2022”. The Project is funded by the European Union and implemented via a partnership between the European Centre for Electoral Support (ECES) and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).

Speakers at the event included the Cabinet Secretary for Interior Dr. Fred Matiangi whose speech was read by the Head of Internal Security Mr. Wilson Njenga, Amb. Filiberto Sebregondi Vice President, ECES Strategic and Advisory Committee, Amb. Katrin Hagemann from the EU, Chairman of NCIC Rev. Samuel Kobia, H.E. Erastus Mwencha Member, ECES Strategic and Advisory Committee, Ms. Anne Ireri Elog Chair and FIDA Kenya Executive Director, Dr Skitter Ocharo CEO NCIC and many other dignitaries.

ECES Strategic Advisory Committee Vice President Amb. Filiberto Sebregondi called on all partners and peace stakeholders to form synergies that will ensure complementarity of action for peaceful elections come August 9th 2022. “ECES promotes electoral and democratic strengthening through the provision of advisory services, operational support and management of large projects mainstreaming capacity and leadership development, via peer exchanges and comparative experiences, dialogue and the prevention and mitigation of electoral conflicts.” added Amb. Sebregondi.

In his keynote address, Dr. Matiangi called on all state institutions and other stakeholders including the interfaith sector and civil society to work together to not only deliver peacfeull elections and to maintain peace and security in Kenya.

On his part, the Chairman of NCIC Reverend Samuel Kobia said that the partnership with ECES will provide NCIC staff and other peace actors with bespoke & tailor made training on how to handle electoral cycles & the challenges thereof. “This training will be available to the wider peace actors within our ambit with whom we have synergies” he added.

NCIC Commissioner Dr. Danvas Makori expressed NCIC resolve to ensure that never again shall there be violence as a result of an election in Kenya and implored upon all Peace actors to join the initiative. He recognized other internal peace actors such as the Global Peace Foundation which has an MOU with the NCIC and who was represented by Kenya Country Director Mr. Daniel Juma Omondi. ‘Through the multi-agency approach to hate speech management, the Judiciary has formed five special courts with 142 Prosecutors to handle hate speech cases” added Makori.

“Elections all over the world should be a celebration of human rights. It is encouraging that we are all gathered here for this course as is stipulated in the kenyan Constitution 2010. ELOG is committed to ensuring we go through an #ElectionsBilaNoma,” said Ms. Anne Ireri of Elog.

• Specific objective 1: To strengthen capacities of peace, cohesion and electoral stakeholders to prevent conflicts and electoral related violence at the local, county, and national levels.
• Specific objective 2: To Strengthen conflict resolution and peace infrastructures that effectively resolve conflicts and curb electoral related violence.
• Specific objective 3: To increase understanding, tolerance, trust, and peaceful co-existence among Kenyans.
• Specific objective 4: To Reduce incidences of electoral violence, hate speech, ethnic contempt in traditional and social media, and in public spaces.