Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya will headline the second international conference on peace, security and social enterprise at the Mount Kenya University (MKU), scheduled for between May 18 to 20, 2022.

The conference is aimed at exploring different ways various sectors can contribute to a peaceful electioneering period.

This comes at a time the country is gearing up for the August 9 polls, with political temperatures on the rise in the last few weeks.

Some parts of the country have been experiencing unrest in the last few years of general elections, leading to the displacement of people, deaths and sometimes loss of business.

The event will present an avenue for academia and practitioners in other sectors to discuss peace and security matters, in relation to social-economic development.

Rev Dr Samuel Kobia, the Chairman of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), who is among the speakers of the conference, will deliver a speech on “peace advocacy in an electioneering period”, while Prof Bitange Ndemo, Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium, will share his perspectives on “cybercrime and the epidemic of mobile addiction”.

Daystar University Vice-Chancellor Dr Laban Ayiro will deliver an address on the “integration of citizenship, patriotism and national ethos in CBC for peace promotion and socio-economic development.”

Ms Carole Kariuki, the CEO of Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) will share insights on “mobilising the private sector for peace through Mkenya Daima Initiative”.

Apart from post-election violence, the conference will focus on clashes between members of different communities or ethnicities over limited resources such as water and pasture which remain a disruptive challenge

Cultural practices including cattle rustling that often result in internal displacement of the attacked communities and disrupt their social-economic activities will also be discussed.

The conference is partly anchored on the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 16, which is about “peace, justice and strong institutions”

“SDG 16 champions a society that is free of violence of all kinds; that protects its people from abuse; and that promotes the rule of law, ensuring equal access to justice and shared resources. This conference, therefore, contributes to the creation of such a society,” says MKU Vice-Chancellor Prof Deogratius Jaganyi.

The conference themed “The role of universities, public and private sectors in peacebuilding for socio-economic development” is set to bring together over 500 delegates.