Each year on September 21st, the world pauses to reflect on the values of peace, justice, and unity as we commemorate the International Day of Peace. For ADS North Rift, peacebuilding is not only a global aspiration but a lived reality through the Western Kenya Peace Initiative (WKPI), a program that has transformed communities once divided by conflict into spaces of reconciliation and hope.
A Movement of Hope and Healing
The WKPI was born out of the urgent need to address recurring tensions in border areas between Nyanza and the Rift Valley of Kenya. Ethnic rivalries, competition over resources, and historical injustices had left communities wounded and divided. In response, ADS North Rift, together with partners, set out to create a platform where dialogue could replace violence, and reconciliation could replace fear.
Today, WKPI is a movement of hope. It brings together elders, women, youth, and local leaders in forums where voices are heard and solutions are shaped collectively. These platforms have not only reduced conflict but have also strengthened bonds across cultural and regional divides.
Empowering Communities Through Dialogue
At the heart of WKPI is the belief that sustainable peace must come from the community itself. Through peace forums, inter-community dialogues, and youth empowerment programs, communities are rediscovering the power of unity.
Youth, once at risk of being drawn into cycles of violence, are now being empowered as peace ambassadors. Women are playing leading roles in fostering reconciliation, while elders provide wisdom and continuity. Together, they are planting seeds of peace that will bear fruit for generations.
A Day to Recommit to Peace
The International Day of Peace reminds us that peace is not simply the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice, dignity, and shared humanity. WKPI embodies this truth by addressing root causes of division and creating a culture of dialogue and mutual respect.
On this day, ADS North Rift reaffirms its commitment to building peaceful, thriving communities. Through WKPI, we continue to walk alongside local communities, ensuring that the bridges of trust we have built remain strong and lasting.
As the world reflects on this year’s International Day of Peace, ADS North Rift calls on all stakeholders, governments, communities, and individuals to recognize that peace is everyone’s responsibility. When we choose dialogue over division and unity over conflict, we create a future where all can belong, thrive, and live with dignity.
Together, let us be the generation that sows peace and reaps hope.
