Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has called for greater use of dialogue and mediation in resolving conflicts as Kenya marked the International Day of Peace.
Murkomen joined youth at the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies at the University of Nairobi on Monday for the Jukwaa la Wasomi graduation ceremony.
The ceremony brought together graduates who had completed training as Certified Professional Mediators.
Murkomen said the graduates represented a generation prepared to use dialogue to resolve disagreements rather than allowing conflicts to escalate.
“The graduation reflects a generation choosing dialogue and the difficult but necessary work of turning disagreement into understanding,” Murkomen said.
The CS said mediation was important in building peaceful communities and resolving disputes before they developed into bigger conflicts.
The International Day of Peace is marked annually on September 21 to promote peace and non-violence around the world.
Murkomen’s appearance at the ceremony comes as Kenya continues to strengthen alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
The Judiciary has been implementing court-annexed mediation since 2016 as part of efforts to reduce case backlogs and improve access to justice.
Article 159(2)(c) of the Constitution requires courts and tribunals to promote alternative forms of dispute resolution, including reconciliation, mediation, arbitration and traditional dispute resolution mechanisms.
The University of Nairobi’s Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies focuses on research and training around peace, environmental governance and related issues.
Murkomen, who serves as the Cabinet Secretary for Interior and National Administration, has previously emphasised the need for peaceful political and social engagement as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election.
The graduation therefore highlighted the growing role of trained mediators in helping individuals and communities settle disagreements through dialogue and negotiated solutions.
