The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has established peace clubs in over 600 schools across the country to entrench peace education and national cohesion.
Through the clubs, NCIC targets to promote peace, appreciation of diversity and dispute resolution amongst students.
NCIC Commissioner Eng. Phillip Okundi said the move aims at reducing conflict among students through peaceful dispute resolution mechanisms, mediation and entrenchment of peace education activities in schools.
Okundi said the club which has representation across the 47 counties currently has a membership of 29, 000 students.
Through the clubs, he added, the commission has managed to promote peace through various engagements among them sports tournaments, clean-up exercises, dialogue forums and community service.
“During such activities, the youth are able to appreciate and respect diversity by interacting with persons from different backgrounds where values that transcend time are passed on to them,” he said.
Speaking during the third national youth workshop on culture, heritage and cohesion at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu, Okundi called for partnership with other state departments and actors to strengthen the clubs in order to realize the fruits of reducing conflict among students.
The workshop sponsored by the Kenya National Commission for UNESCO (KNATCOM) brought youth from all the 47 counties together to appreciate cultural diversity in the country to help achieve peace and sustainable development.
KNATCOM Cultural Programs Director Julius Mwahunga said the diverse culture in the country was an asset that must be tapped to build one unified nation.
By Chris Mahandara
