Canon Karanja, Myoot Council of Elders Discuss Peace and Reconciliation
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and the Myoot Council of Elders yesterday concluded a 2-day Intra Community Dialogue Forum on peace and reconciliation in the Rift Valley. The forum that was the first in a series of such events under the ‘Pamoja Peace Initiative’ brought together more than 30 elders from the Kalenjin community. During the forum, the elders explored among other things ways of advancing reconciliation and ensuring peaceful co –existence among communities living in the area.
Speaking at the event, NCCK General Secretary Reverend Canon Peter Karanja acknowledged the role played by Myoot Council of elders in building bridges with other communities in the Rift Valley. Canon Karanja who is one of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) goodwill ambassador, said that the elders had played a critical role in ensuring that peace and tranquility prevails in the region. Canon Karanja said that the country’s peace and political stability was in the hands of Kenyans who must build bridges and break ethnic walls that divide them. He added that NCCK was committed to economic empowerment which is a key component to meaningful peace. “We must ask ourselves how we can organize our communities to generate wealth. If our youth do not have employment what will they become?” he posed.
The group advocated for open interrogation among communities to articulate their interests and seek cooperation with others for the mutual benefit of everyone. The session that was conducted in Eldoret was moderated by Myoot Council of elders chairman Joseph Cheruiyot and his counterpart emeritus major John Seii. On his part major Seii thanked NCCK for facilitating the forum. He called on Kenyans to unite to ensure long lasting peace. NCCK’s Senior Programmes Officer in charge of Governance and Social Services Chris Kinyanjui presented to the elders various economic and socio-political scenarios that could inform peace strategies going forward. The meeting with Myoot Council of Elders marked the beginning of the second phase of NCCK’s intra and inter community peace forum in the country under the 2-year project dubbed ‘Pamoja Initiative. The project is aimed at creating safe spaces for open dialogue and consensus building amongst ethnic communities in areas hitherto characterized by conflicts.
NCCK’s North Rift Regional Coordinator Daniel Kimutai, his counterpart for South Rift Joseph Ngetich and Programmes Officer Sammy Kingi were among those who attended.
