A community peace initiative started at the onset of the August 9 election campaigns in Kibera, has paid off, it has emerged.

According to a slum urban network, the peace activities mounted before and after the polls in 11 informal settlements in the city, were instrumental in thwarting the violence.

Leaders from the 11 slums congregated at Katwekera village of the slum to pray and celebrate the peace maintained by the resident’s during the electioneering period.

“Our message was simple; your neighbour is your brother and sister. If you have any problem, they are the ones who respond first,” Shining Hope For Communities (SHOFCO) Urban Network, chairperson Risper Awino said, noting the network engaged in door-to-door peace meetings before and after the election period.

Shun violence

“Let’s love our neighbours as it has been, and elections should not divide us. We told Kibera residents that there are no tribes in the slums, the only tribe we know is Kenya and that we should be vigilant not to be used by politicians to disrupt the peace,” she added.

Awino said this during the event at Shofco offices where residents unanimously agreed to shun violence as this would only have affected their businesses and livelihoods. “By now we could be counting dozens of our people dead. We are glad the call to peace was heeded,” she said.

Speaking during a press conference, SHOFCO Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Kennedy Odede (pictured) lauded the residents for maintaining peace during the electioneering period. “I am impressed by the calm atmosphere in Kibera after the general election,” he said. 

Community leaders

The slums are prone to election-related violence with Kibera and Mathare bearing the heaviest brunt during the 2007, 2013 and 2017 polls but the community leaders vowed not to go back to those dark days this year. SHOFCO boasts of over two million members through its SUN program and it is through this wide network that the community leaders ensured there was no chaos in the slums as well as the rural areas.