Get paid for your content. Send your stories / photos tofeedback.kenya@news24.com. We will M-Pesa you 300 KES for every submission published!
Different communities comprising of Kalenjin, Kikuyu and Kisii residing in Molo and Kuresoi constituency have pledged to stay together in harmony in order to fast track peace development in the region.
The three communities made a joint initiation ceremony for both boys and girls who went for an alternative rite of passage rather than the physical one of circumcission.
The program which was sponsored by the National Council of Churches, Gender Equity Network and Genesis Art Creation sought to bring together initiates from various communities after undergoing training on peace building, children’s rights, the ICC, sexually transmitted diseases and the importance of education.
Peace ambassadors
NCCK official Joseph Ng’etich said the more than 200 youths trained would be peace ambassadors to encourage peaceful coexistence in Kuresoi.
He said the graduates had vowed to promote high standard of discipline by shunning drugs and politically instigated bloodshed where youths are incited into violence in torching houses, looting property, killing and displacing members from a different communities in Molo and Kuresoi.
Ng’etich said the event was meant to cleanse the name of the large Molo district which has experienced sporadic violence since the first multiparty elections, adding that NCCK had lined up peace meeting in hotspot areas in Rift Valley.
He lauded the local and spiritual leaders who were taking care for the boy making their initiation rite of passage a success that symbolized a history of peace and harmony among warring communities in Molo and Kuresoi districts.
Daniel Njuki, Genesis Art Creation and Liza Chelule of the Gender Equity Network said the joint initiation program will be a fisher of peaceful co-existence to erase negative ethnicity and address the importance of education, rights, equity and equality for youths.
Reverend Lawrence Bomett who is also NCIC commissioner presented certificates to the initiates urging them to defy any attempt of violence that has claimed many lives and derailed development since the first multiparty elections.
“Once different communities appreciate each other, peace and development will be attained but the government has isolated a section of the communities living in Rift Valley in resettlement and resources allocation, added Bomett.
The graduates said they were expecting positive changes in their lives adding that unlike other boys who are talk traditions in wars and weapon they were taught to be morally upright and to respect each other in unity.
Njuki urged parents to refrain from using children to settle grudges between communities adding that youths were turning into crimes such as cattle rustling due to traditional influence that failed to respect ownership of property and the rule of law.
Njuki went on to add that parents are to blame for poisoning their children’s minds instead of instilling good morals in our societies. War, tribalism, ignorance and corruption have been passed over from one generation to another a thing that should change.
He lauded the local and spiritual leaders for taking care of the boy making their initiation rite of passage a success that symbolized a history of peace and harmony among warring communities in Molo and Kuresoi districts.
The youths from several divisions such as Nyakinywa, Sirikwa, Kuresoi, Keringet, Kamara, Molo and Sachagwan were named ambassadors of peace and assigned the duty of promoting positive ethnicity in the named hotspot districts in Nakuru County.
Disclaimer: News24Kenya encourages freedom of speech and the expression of
diverse views. The views of columnists published on News24 are
therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of
News24Kenya.
- News24Kenya
Get the latest news by following us on Twitter
Disclaimer: All articles and letters published on MyNews24 have been independently written by members of News24's community. The views of users published on News24 are therefore their own and do not necessarily represent the views of News24. News24 editors also reserve the right to edit or delete any and all comments received.