The National Cohesion and Integration Commission has urged Kenyan youth to take time and familiarise with the entire electoral process and the constitutional provisions.
The commission said this will play a key role in helping the youth be of great value to the society by understanding their role in peace building.
Commissioner Dorcas Kedogo said peace and cohesion is a multi- stakeholder issue that should not be treated as a reserve for the security sector.
Speaking in Kajiado during the opening of a three-day stakeholder camp towards promotion of Post-Election Peace and Cohesion, Kedogo said there is an urgent need for everyone especially youth and women to be involved in the peace building process.
"I urge the youth to take time and observe the leaders they chose and choose wisely; they also need to familiarize with the entire electoral system and know their roles in peace building so much so they can be youth of value," she said.
Her sentiments were echoed by deputy director of Public Education Kilian Nyambu who said even as the country readjusts to calmness after the 2022 General Election, stakeholders had failed to follow the proper conflict resolution procedures that has left the country grappling.
According to Nyambu, instead of stakeholders using informal discussions, negotiation, mediation and arbitration, they rather opt for enforcement by force using security officers and later adjudication in courts of law.
"It is a concern that in Kenya we start from the last result of forced enforcement which in the long run has a double impact on the countries socio-economic being," he said.
Activist Jackline Saleiyan said a time has come for the women and young people in the country to be challenged to seek worth causes to fight for other than divisive politics.
"We make 60% of the population and evidently, there is power in numbers. However, we need to ask ourselves what are we propagating as the youth of Kenya? When we know how much power we have, what our rights are and what our role in peace building is, then we shall fight for more worthy causes instead of politics," she said.
NCIC's program officer Regina Mutiru more women should be involved in the peace process because they carry the burden when men are killed.
Despite being pillars of families and societies, Mutiru said when men die in conflicts women remain with the burden of taking care of the home and children.
"We must therefore acknowledge the disproportionate and unique impact of armed conflict on women and girls. Peace and security efforts are more sustainable when women are equal partners in the prevention of violent conflicts, the delivery of relief and recovery efforts and in the forging of lasting peace," she said.
