Peace stakeholders in Marsabit County have called for stronger coordination, early intervention and inclusive community engagement to prevent emerging tensions from escalating into conflict.
The call was made in a joint statement by the Office of the County Commissioner, Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK), Marsabit County Peace Committee, Marsabit Interfaith Council, and representatives of women and youth.
County Commissioner Stanley Kamande read the statement and urged residents to take collective responsibility for maintaining peace and promoting peaceful coexistence across the county.
Kamande called on community members to responsibly share information concerning emerging tensions, hate messages, incitement on social media, misinformation, resource-related disputes and other indicators that could contribute to conflict.
The peace actors said timely sharing of credible information would enable Government agencies, peace actors and community structures to assess emerging threats and provide appropriate responses before situations escalated.
“Government agencies, peace actors and community structures should continue to strengthen coordination so that credible early warnings are assessed and appropriate responses provided before situations escalate,” the joint statement said.
The stakeholders emphasised that sustainable peace could not be achieved by one institution or group alone, but required the participation and goodwill of all sections of society.
They said the Government would continue working in collaboration with civil society organisations, religious leaders, political leaders, professionals, businesspeople, elders, youth, women, community peace structures and relevant independent commissions to coordinate and implement peace initiatives in Marsabit County.
The peace actors stressed that cooperation among the different groups was essential in identifying emerging threats, addressing grievances and promoting peaceful coexistence.
“Sustainable peace cannot be achieved by one institution or group alone. It requires our collective efforts and goodwill from all sections of society,” the statement noted.
Kamande also conveyed the stakeholders’ appeal to residents to continue promoting dialogue and peaceful coexistence while using established mechanisms to address grievances and disputes.
Residents were encouraged to avoid actions or messages that could inflame tensions and instead report emerging concerns through appropriate channels.
The peace actors particularly highlighted the importance of responsible information sharing, noting that misinformation, hate messages and incitement through social media could heighten tensions if not addressed at an early stage.
They urged residents to verify information before sharing it and to avoid spreading messages capable of creating fear, hostility or divisions within communities.
The joint statement also called for inclusive participation and coordinated community engagement as key components of peacebuilding efforts.
The stakeholders said Marsabit should be known not only for its diversity but also for how that diversity could contribute to building and sustaining peace.
They identified inclusive participation, early action and coordinated community engagement as essential to preventing conflict and strengthening peaceful relations in the county.
Women, youth, elders, religious leaders, political leaders, professionals, businesspeople and other community stakeholders were urged to remain actively involved in peace initiatives and efforts to address emerging grievances.
The peace actors further called on community leaders and residents to strengthen dialogue and cooperation across different communities, saying early engagement could help resolve disputes before they develop into wider conflicts.
They said existing peace structures should remain accessible to residents seeking to resolve disagreements and encouraged communities to make use of peaceful dispute-resolution mechanisms.
The stakeholders also urged residents to support Government and community efforts aimed at identifying and addressing potential sources of conflict, including disputes over resources.
The peace actors reiterated that maintaining peace was a shared responsibility and called on all residents to work together to protect the county’s social cohesion.
by Anthony Melly
