The Council of Non-Governmental Organizations in Kenya has proposed measures towards a peaceful election to carry out before the August 2022 polls.
Speaking during a meeting at Nyayo House Nairobi, the Council Chairman Stephen Cheboi stated that the council is at the frontline to amplify the voice of Kenyans to agitate for a free, fair, credible and peaceful election.
He flagged out a peace walk that will take place on the 21st of May 2022, which will engage people from all walks of life, grassroots leaders, security experts, peace activists and women’s rights organization from around the country.
“We will march across towns in 47 counties to support a free, fair, credible, and peaceful election and call for women’s full inclusion,” Cheboi said.
He lauded women for striving to maintain and promote lasting peace and security through their full and effective participation in peace efforts that is well recognized by the international community.
He emphasized on the importance of women’s participation in governance as critical to legitimate and inclusive political processes, which in turn is critical to the prevention of relapse into violence.
“New data from the United Nations indicates that women’s participation in peace building processes is beginning to improve, gender expertise is increasingly being deployed to assist in conflict resolution processes and women are starting to assume a greater role in negotiations, both as negotiators and as technical experts,” Cheboi said.
He commended the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325, States, regional organizations, the UN agencies and civil society organizations who have made firm commitments to support women’s decision making, leadership and participation in conflict resolution, peace processes and post-conflict, peace building and state building.
“Nearly 50 National and Regional Action plans to implement resolution 1,325 have been developed, and the Secretary General’s seven-point action plan on women’s participation in peace building sets out the UN’s system-wide commitment to operationalizing the council’s women, peace and security agenda in conflict resolution, recovery and post conflict settings,” he said.
Additionally, the council said that Kenya is a priority country in the United States National Action Plan on women, peace and security, therefore planning to advance women’s participation in making and keeping peace.
By Alain Christian
