NCIC youth café promotes peace ahead of 2027 elections

The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has brought together young leaders in Kisumu to promote peace, dialogue and national cohesion ahead of Kenya’s 2027 general election.

The youth café, led by Commissioner Jerusa Mwathime, Director Millicent Okatch and Nyanza Regional NCIC Coordinator Castro Baraza, sought to encourage young people to take an active role in preventing electoral violence and promoting peaceful political engagement.

Commissioner Mwathime said the commission was committed to empowering young people to become agents of positive change and take the lead in promoting peace.

“We are here to engage the youth so that we can ensure they are at the forefront of driving peace,” she said.

She noted that young people make up a significant proportion of the population and have an important role to play in steering the country away from violence.

Director Okatch said dialogue and collaboration were essential to addressing the challenges facing young people as the country prepares for the 2027 general election.

“We are unveiling our roadmap to the 2027 general election, and we will continue to engage,” she said.

Regional Coordinator Castro Baraza welcomed the response from participants, saying they had demonstrated a strong interest in peacebuilding initiatives.

“The young people of Kisumu are very energetic and well-informed, and they have made commitments to us,” he said.

Law student Lynn Masawa described the meeting as productive, saying it had helped participants understand the wider consequences of violence.

“This meeting today has been very fruitful, showing us the broader picture of what violence could potentially cause,” she said.

The youth café provided a platform for young leaders to discuss peace, strengthen collaboration and explore ways to prevent violence ahead of the next general election.

Through initiatives such as the youth café, the NCIC aims to encourage young people to reject political violence, embrace dialogue and work together towards a peaceful and cohesive society.