UN promotes peacebuilding in Kenya after election crisis

United Nations Volunteers (UNV) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) have brought together 120 national leaders from around Kenya for a peacebuilding workshop following the violence and unrest that broke out after the country’s recent election.

Kenyans from the sports, music, media and education professions took part in the training, as well as members of faith organizations. The aim of the workshop, which ended on Saturday, was to promote community dialogue in collaboration with the Government.

Volunteer leaders from the workshop will use their skills to carry out conflict resolution in their own communities, as well as to promote control of small arms and to provide humanitarian relief.

Jeremiah Kemboi, a 32-year-old marathon runner, said that holding dialogues with his fellow athletes would contribute to peace and reconciliation. “I look forward to using my skills as a team leader to urge athletes to broker peace among the villages and the internally displaced persons [IDPs] from Nyakinyua farm close to my village Usamala,” he said.