Remarks By Canon Karanja-Day 2 Pamoja Conference

A.  PRELIMINARIES

Your Excellency Hon Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, President and Commander In Chief of The Defence Forces Of the Republic of Kenya,

Hon Justin B. Muturi, Speaker of The National Assembly,

Hon Dr  Evans Kidero, Governor of Nairobi County,

Hon Joseph ole Lenku, Cabinet Secretary Interior Ministry,

Members of The Diplomatic Corps,

All protocols observed

Ladies and Gentlemen.

B. INTRODUCTION:

It is my sincere gratitude, to welcome all of you to the second day of the Pamoja National Conference. We thank God for having enabled us to see this day as we prepare ourselves to carry on with this conversation on national cohesion and integration. May I take this earliest opportunity to officially welcome and express my gratitude to your Excellency the President, for graciously accepting our invitation to be part of this conversation. Similarly, I welcome our other distinguished guests who have found time out of their busy schedule to be with us today as we seek answers to this critical and yet complex subject on national cohesion through The Pamoja Conference. I note with appreciation, the vigor and expertise displayed in yesterday’s deliberations and look forward to today’s discussions whose outcome will inform the county forums we shall be rolling out. I reckon that from here the clarion call will be to build on the gains made this far through our intra and inter ethnic dialogue forums over the last 6 years.

 C. ELUSIVE COHESION AND INTEGRATION IN KENYA

Your Excellency, distinguished participants,

Drawing from our history, on two occasions Kenyans have exemplified that national cohesion and integration is not a mirage but a goal that is achievable. These two occasions were;

• During the build-up to independence in 1963
• During the 2002 general election

The two events were marked with a sense of nationhood which demonstrated patriotism and palpable excitement among Kenyans. But despite these notable events that forever remain a silver lining in our history, the journey towards nationhood and meaningful cohesion has been slippery and at times bloody.

 Your Excellency, distinguished participants

In our 51 years of independence, majority of us have agonized over various challenges that continue to keep us in the vicious cycle which undermines our national fabric. Such challenges include political patronage, ethnic contradictions, socio-economic and cultural issues, which as a nation, we have failed to face squarely and resolve in a manner which provides comfort to our diverse people.

 Kenyans often express fear that some political leaders use ethnic identity and inflammatory statements to mobilize political support. The result is that people are left polarized along ethnic line.

 To reverse this, political leaders must recognize the need to cooperate with their opponents as a means of fostering meaningful reconciliation and ultimately national cohesion. Leaders must come to see collaboration even with their former foes not as an act of altruism, but one of enlightened self interest. Their interests can be better advanced through cooperation with other.

 The breakdown of social structures has undermined cohesion not only in the community but also at the household level. The situation is exacerbated by insensitivity by successive governments to the needs and aspirations of Kenyans. The systemic violation of the rights of many Kenyan citizens over the years has nurtured inherent mistrust, deep rooted and longstanding grievances undermining cohesion and integration in Kenya.

 It is our hope your Excellency that in this new dispensation, all our institutions will build synergies and support a candid, honest and creative confrontation of our negative forces in order to rebuild the fabric and hope of our nation.

 D. CONSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK

Your Excellency the President, distinguished participants,

As we gather here today during The Pamoja Conference, we are  encouraged by the fact that despite our historical challenges, the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 provides a firm foundation and framework through which issues that have created a rift among Kenyans can be addressed. This framework provides and guarantees a cohesive and integrated country. As affirmed in the preamble, “Kenyans are proud of our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity and determined to live in peace and unity as one indivisible sovereign nation”. With this in mind, the million dollar question remains how to take advantage of this constitutional framework and build on the gains made in our democratic processes to achieve national cohesion.

 Your Excellency, distinguished participants,

An equitable distribution of resources and a sense of inclusion in the national processes remains a central building block for national cohesion. Provision of education, economic opportunity and political space are key pacifying areas that have hitherto experienced ethnic animosity and flare-ups . A country that aspires to achieve reconciliation must walk towards a frame of reference focusing on not only restoration but also rebuilding of relations among ethnic communities. This conference notes with concern that the Pamoja Conference comes against a backdrop of heightened political activities in the country that once again may place the well being in jeopardy after a very bruising political contest.

 E. THE PAMOJA CONFERENCE

Your Excellency, distinguished participants,

Together with these delegates, we initiated a peace and reconciliation process dubbed ‘The Pamoja Initaitive’,6 years ago. This initiative was informed by the ethnic violence that rocked the country following the 2007 disputed presidential results.

 The main objective of this initiative, was to provide safe spaces to various ethnic communities to undertake candid intra and inter community dialogue with a view of building consensus on issues of ethnic divisions. Through the Pamoja Initiative, the communities have held various dialogue forums and by and large, have been able to achieve consensus on issues that divide them and those that unite them. This conference views this as a critical milestone in developing common ground for all Kenyans.   

 Your Excellency, distinguished participants,

In February last year a delegation of 100 elders from various Councils of elders, women and youth leaders visited Rwanda. The aim of the visit was to draw vital lessons from that country on why we must agree that conflict isn’t a way to solve problems no matter how deeply we feel them.  During the trip, the delegation visited the memorial parks that serve as a constant reminder to the 2004 Rwanda genocide.

 I am glad to report, that the experience that the delegation carried back resulted in a more aggressive pursuit of peace in the context of the electioneering emotions of the day. Going forward, this conference hopes to provide a platform not only for reflection but also a springboard to extend this conversation in county forums.

 The Overall goal is to initiate a national cohesion agenda that   transcends the discourse around   ethnic, political and socio-economic divisions. We must deliberately build a common understanding on national cohesion that transcends expedient political competition and theatrics.

 Constructive national dialogue remains the guiding principle of achieving meaningful peace that is the enigma to many communities. My challenge to this gathering and the nation at large is to be magnanimous in our daily undertakings to achieve the ultimate goal of national cohesion and integration. Our overarching goals should be for communities in the country to realize the bigger picture and render secondary loyalty to conflicting  ethnic interests.

 F. COUNTY FORA

Your Excellency, distinguished partners,

As indicated earlier, this conference is a platform to exchange ideas and prepare ourselves to take the conversation to the grassroots level through county forums. Participants at the county forums will focus on aspects that are pertinent to specific county, but tied to national interest. I am confident that this conference will inform and shape that discourse with a view of helping communities cultivate homegrown solutions to their specific complexities.

 G. APPEAL TO THE PRESIDENT

Your Excellency, distinguished participants

This conference appreciates that national cohesion is a priority in the Jubilee manifesto. We also recognize the measures taken by your government this far to address the issues that divide Kenyans along ethnic and political lines. This conference is however concerned that the country is still divided politically down the middle. The conference further notes that cohesion involves building bridges across the ethnic divides, social classes and the political divide. With this in mind your Excellency, this conference, therefore would like to appeal that;

• Your government commits adequate human, material and logistical support for cohesion and integration interventions.
• We also request the government to provide space for non-state actors to supplement government action. Your express leadership as the symbol of national unity will be key to the success of these endeavors not withstanding the pressures and demands on your time by your national and global duties.

 H. CONCLUSION

Your Excellency, All Protocols Observed

In conclusion, I affirm our commitment to moving this conversation to the next level through the county forums. We look fo6rward to a more robust dialogue in the counties.

It is now my pleasure to welcome my brother Hassan Mohammed, NCIC CEO to make his remarks.  

Thank You!