National Youth Council, NCIC partner to foster youth-led peace initiatives

The agreement, signed at a ceremony in Nairobi, brings together two state institutions with complementary mandates.

The council amplifies youth voices and advocates for opportunity, while the commission promotes national unity, harmony, and peaceful coexistence among ethnic, racial, and religious groups.

Speaking at the ceremony, Gloria Wawira, acting chief executive of the National Youth Council, emphasized the central role of young people in shaping the country’s trajectory.

“Young people are not just the leaders of tomorrow—they are the drivers of change today. This partnership with NCIC recognizes that Kenya's youth are essential agents of social transformation and peaceful coexistence. Through this collaboration, we will ensure that youth voices are not only heard but actively shape policies and programs that build a more cohesive and integrated society.”

The memorandum outlines a broad cooperation framework that includes joint policy advocacy and development to promote youth participation in peacebuilding and national cohesion; capacity building and training to equip youth leaders with skills in conflict resolution, mediation, and countering violent extremism; and public awareness campaigns aimed at addressing hate speech and ethnic prejudice.

The partnership also calls for collaborative research on youth behavior, radicalization, and election-related risks, alongside the joint organization of peace conventions, cultural festivals, and “Sports for Peace” initiatives.

The two institutions said they would pursue shared resource mobilization efforts, including proposal development and fundraising for cohesion programs.

Daniel Mutegi Giti, chief executive of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, said the initiative reflects the importance of engaging younger generations in the cohesion agenda.

“The future of our nation depends on our ability to bring young people together across ethnic and cultural lines. This partnership with NYC enables us to reach youth at the grassroots level across all 47 counties, equipping them with the tools to become ambassadors of peace, champions of inclusivity, and guardians of our national unity. When we invest in cohesive youth, we invest in a peaceful Kenya.”

The two-year agreement establishes a joint technical committee, with three representatives from each institution tasked with overseeing implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of shared programs. It also proposes the development of early warning mechanisms to address youth involvement in conflict and election-related violence.

Both organizations reaffirmed commitments to transparency, mutual respect, inclusivity, and accountability, stating that all initiatives would be carried out within their statutory mandates and in compliance with Kenyan law. Officials from both institutions attended the signing, marking what they described as the start of a more integrated approach to channeling the energy and creativity of Kenyan youth toward national cohesion and peaceful development.