NCIC trains youth on peace building in Machakos

Machakos,

Wednesday, September 13, 2023

KNA by Roselyne Kavoo

The National Cohesion and Integrated Commission (NCIC) has partnered with Machakos County Government to train some 105 youth on peace building in an initiative dubbed ‘Amani kwa Ground’.

NCIC Commissioner Danvas Makori said the three-day workshop that ends today aims to shape and develop the youth into peace advocates both at the county and the national level.

Makori said the training focuses on key subjects among them diversity, inclusivity and the country’s national values and principles of governance.

Speaking to the press at the sidelines of the workshop in Machakos the NCIC commissioner said youth are more likely to be used by politicians to cause chaos and violence hence the need to equip them with peace building skills.

‘‘In our country’s political cycle, the youth are more vulnerable and are used by politicians to cause mayhem and that is why we are training them on mediation, peace and security, ’he said.

Makori said NCIC was keen on creating peace structures and resilience within communities through the initiative and disclosed that the commission will partner with county governments to achieve the goal.

 '‘We want to have sustainable peace across the country and we will work closely with the devolved units to have the peace structures in place, ’said the commissioner.

He said the participants of the workshop had been drawn from different sectors in the county including politics, business and academia.

 '‘The reason why we chose Machakos is because it’s a metropolitan county that has enjoyed relative peace even when the country is going through turmoil, ’said Makori.

 The commissioner underscored the importance of peace in development and asked the youth to act as ambassadors of peace in their respective communities.

Machakos Youth Assembly President Nicodemus Muoki lauded the initiative and asked the youth to embrace peace and desist from being used by politicians to cause violence.

 "We are grateful for the opportunity and we promise to foster peace in our communities. We will not allow to be used by politicians to breach peace, ’said Muoki.

County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Youth, Sports and Gender John Kilonzo speaking at the same briefing noted that the youth play an integral role in peace building.

Kilonzo said the county government had rolled our several youth programmes aimed at engaging and empowering the youth.

“We have set aside 20 million shillings to train the youth on practical skills. We have also established the governor’s cup that involves more than 640 teams across the county. These programmes are meant to empower the young people, ’said the CECM.  

Courtesy; KNA