Nairobi: Some 500 students, both girls and boys, drawn from 15 primary, Junior Secondary School (JSS), and secondary schools in Kisumu County, participated in a peace debate competition aimed at promoting peaceful co-existence in learning institutions. The Amani Club Inter-school Debate and Public Speaking contest 2025 Kisumu County Edition, was organized by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) in partnership with the Ministry of Education, the Teachers Service Commission, and other partners.
According to Kenya News Agency, Nyanza Regional Coordinator, NCIC, Castro Baraza, speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the event held in Otieno Oyoo Secondary School, underscored the importance of dialogue in fostering peace and unity. 'Amani Clubs are here to help nurture peace in Kenyans from a young age. We intend to have a new generation of peace builders emerging in Kenya. Also, through engaging young learners, we are not only encouraging a population that listens, but a population that speaks,' Baraza noted.
He emphasized the importance of constructive engagement, particularly through intergenerational dialogue, to tackle the nation's pressing challenges, promote mutual understanding, and cultivate a culture of peace. Baraza revealed that schools with well-grounded and progressive Amani Clubs do not experience student unrest, as learners meet, talk, and debate issues affecting the country and those that impact them directly.
'Young people do suffer from trauma, peer pressure, and even conflicts between them and the school management. When we encourage them to constructively debate these issues amongst themselves, with their teachers and the school management, it significantly helps to avert strikes in schools,' the NCIC Regional Coordinator highlighted. According to Baraza, engaging learners in open and honest discussions enables them to employ alternative dispute resolution methods, helping to resolve conflicts among peers and with school administrators.
Amani Club National Organizing Secretary, Kennedy Kunani, while speaking at the event, appealed to schools nationwide to embrace the Amani Club initiative to help in promoting national unity and social cohesion. 'Teaching children about peace from an early age is the surest way to build a peaceful nation. It also prevents those who might want to exploit them for violence,' Kunani said.
David Ochola, the Amani Clubs Kisumu County Coordinator, emphasized the need for Kenyans to unite in promoting peace, particularly among Gen Z movements. Ochola stressed that instilling these values early in young learners will help foster a society rooted in peace. The competitions held under the theme, 'Building bridges, not barriers', involve essay writing, public speaking, and debates for peace in English, Kiswahili, and French languages. It has been running in schools in various counties, and the best teams are expected to proceed to the National Championship, which will be held in August in Nairobi.