The Task of Building a Cohesive Nation is for You and Me

Preamble

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Cohesion and Equal Opportunity (Parliamentary Cohesion Committee) and the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) have today held a consultative meeting at Jumuia Place, Nairobi. The meeting focused on building a framework for mutual engagement in the promotion of national cohesion and integration.

 Partnerships on National Cohesion and Integration

The three institutions reiterated their commitment to fostering national cohesion and integration, and are working to re-invigorate partnerships with religious and other institutions. These partnerships are a critical component in the national strategy of achieving the vision of a united nation as declared in the Preamble of the Kenya Constitution 2010.It is therefore imperative that we together seek conflict sensitive mechanisms that do not jeopardize our national fabric but resonate well with the complexities of our society while building their capacities to engage at national level.

This is in recognition that national cohesion and integration is an integral component in the process of building a just and sustainable society.

We remain alive to the fact that conflicts arise when grievances that individuals and communities have are not adequately addressed through the laid down institutional frameworks. This is especially so in an environment where cultural beliefs and practices are believed to supersede constitutional and legal provisions. Such practices often result in one individual or community trampling on the rights of other individuals or communities.

We therefore appreciate that institutional frameworks on their own will not solve the challenges that hinder national cohesion and integration. To achieve this, it is important that the individuals and communities who feel aggrieved are given opportunities to discuss those grievances with the protagonists in a safe and solution seeking environment.

Recognizing this, the NCIC, Joint Parliamentary Cohesion Committee and NCCK today reiterated the need for structured intra and inter-ethnic dialogue forums as a channel of addressing perennial conflicts in the country.

 The Pamoja Initiative II

In this regard, the meeting today appreciated and restated the commitment of the three institutions to The Pamoja Initiative II. Chaired by Hon Francis ole Kaparo, the Pamoja Initiative II is a multi-sectoral peace building programme that will facilitate intra and inter-ethnic dialogue at county and national levels.

It is premised on the principle that cooperation between communities should be a result of enlightened self-interests. True peace will not be achieved by appealing to intrinsic goodness or altruism on the part of the people involved. Rather, individuals and communities must grow to the point of accepting that cooperating with others will enable them achieve their goals more than if they choose to get embroiled in conflict.

The Technical Committee and Strategic Boards of The Pamoja Initiative II have been established, and actual programmatic interventions are expected to begin soon.

The Initiative is a partnership between the NCCK, NCIC, Parliamentary Cohesion Committee, Inter Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Directorate of National Cohesion and National Values, National Steering Committee on Peace Building and Conflict Management and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI).

 Current Violence in the Country

In the meantime, we strongly condemn the instances of violence and conflict that have been witnessed in different parts of the country in the recent past. We call upon and challenge all the leaders and communities to work for peaceful resolution of disputes and disagreements. We all must accept that violence is not an acceptable solution.

 Conclusion

We wish to conclude by reiterating that lasting peace will not come to our nation if efforts are not put into building national cohesion and integration. The partners remain committed to this dream of building a cohesive, just and sustainable nation.

It is our prayer that with God’s help, we will keep building partnerships with all other actors in the country so that the prayer we make in our National Anthem may come to be true:

O God of all creation, bless this our land and nation

Justice be our shield and defender

May we dwell in unity, peace and liberty

Plenty be found within our borders

Signed on this 10^th day of November 2014 at Ol Lerai, Jumuia Place, Nairobi.