NAIROBI MARCH 11 2016(CISA)-Children in Northern Kenya are assisting their warring communities in the process of peace building, Monica Kinyua founder of Children Peace Initiative Kenya has said.
Speaking at Tangaza College, Nairobi during a Symposium on Jubilee Mercy at dubbed Joining hands for Mercy, she said the initiative that was started five years ago among the Samburu and Pokot communities has led to substantial peaceful coexistence, reconciliation and reduction of cattle rustling among pastoralist conflicts.
“We work through schools where we facilitate peace camps. Each child is encouraged to make a friend from the rival community then together they are taught how to work and tolerate one another” “After the children become friends, we encourage them to invite one another to their families where they spent a few days together. After some time, the families become friends,” Monica Kinyua said.
Hillary Bukono who also works with Children Peace Initiative Kenya observes that this initiative has led to increased positive interaction between the two previously warring communities.
“Now the two communities can concentrate on improving their livelihoods unlike previously when they left their crops in the fields as they fled from the conflict. We even see them exchanging gifts such as heifers between families of different communities as a sign of peaceful coexistence. Every human being has a capacity to forgive and the main purpose of the Church and the gospel is to reinforce this,” he observed.
Lilian Wachira the Nairobi regional coordinator of the catholic chaplaincy in charge of prisons within the Nairobi Diocese who also spoke in the event said that, the Church should renew their efforts in serving inmates especially in this year of mercy.
