Peace should be reflected in everyday leadership and community life rather than confined to political speeches and public declarations, peace advocate Amb. Eugene Kavune Nzabonimba has said.
Nzabonimba, the founder and Global President of the Global Union for Peace and Development (GUPD), said leaders at national, county and community levels had a responsibility to promote unity, protect human dignity and address conflicts before they escalate.
He spoke at the Kenya Secretariat offices of the Peace Ambassadors, Humanitarian, Social Justice, Missionary and International Observers (PAHSJMIO) at Ofafa Jericho, Makadara, Nairobi, where he delivered a global message on peace, social justice, humanitarian service and sustainable development.
“Peace must become a way of life,” Nzabonimba said, urging leaders to protect life, promote justice, support vulnerable communities and create conditions for reconciliation.
He cautioned against allowing political differences to undermine national cohesion, saying leaders could disagree politically while continuing to respect one another.
“Political differences should never destroy the unity of the nation. We can disagree politically and still respect one another as human beings,” he said.
Nzabonimba called on national and county governments to strengthen public participation and invest in education, healthcare, employment, youth and women empowerment, environmental protection and community development.
He also urged legislators, administrators, religious leaders, elders and other community influencers to use dialogue and mediation to resolve disputes before they escalate into violence.
Religious institutions, he said, should serve as centres of forgiveness, reconciliation and humanitarian assistance, while community leaders should help build bridges during periods of tension.
The peace advocate further challenged young people to reject violence, hate, criminality and destructive extremism, urging them to channel their energy into education, entrepreneurship, technology, innovation and community service.
He called for greater participation of women in leadership, governance, business and peacebuilding, while urging stronger protection of women and girls against violence, exploitation and discrimination.
Nzabonimba linked peace to economic development, saying stable communities create an environment where businesses can operate, investments can grow, children can learn and governments can effectively deliver essential services.
He urged businesses and investors to contribute to job creation, skills development, innovation, environmental protection and community development.
During the meeting, peace ambassadors appointed a team to coordinate upcoming PAHSJMIO activities, including a mega peace meeting planned for Nakuru in mid-November.
Nzabonimba challenged peace ambassadors to demonstrate their commitment through action, describing them as bridge-builders, listeners, humanitarians and agents of reconciliation.
“Be peace before you speak about peace,” he said.
He also called on Kenyans to safeguard national peace and urged Africans to reject the idea that conflict was an unavoidable part of the continent’s future.
“Amani ni kila kitu. Kila kitu ni amani,” he said, reaffirming his call for peace in Kenya, Africa and the world.
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