Senate Joint Committees on Lands, Security, National Cohesion and Legal Affairs today met with the National Steering Committee (NSC) on Peace Building and Conflict Management Chaired by retired Lieutenant General Daniel Opande to deliberate on the review of Kenya’s Peace Building Architecture.

The National Steering Committee for Peacebuilding and Conflict Management (NSC) domiciled in the Ministry of Interior and National Administration with support from the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO), and are conducting a comprehensive review of Kenya’s peacebuilding Architecture. 

The review is being conducted in collaboration with an independent panel of Advisors, two Consultants, and the Conflict Analysis Group (CAG) – one of the working sub-Committees within NSC that brings together different state and non-state actors involved in analysis of peace and conflict dynamics in Kenya. The review seeks to contribute to the development of a ‘’ new national agenda for peace’’ for Kenya. 

In their presentation the NSC informed the legislators that, while the Government has made significant progress in strengthening peacebuilding institutions through policy formulation and capacity building, challenges remain due to limited capacity, perceived political bias, unhealthy competition within the peace sector, weak coordination, limited capacity for digital peacebuilding, and weak financing models.

‘’In line with the government’s commitment to prioritize peace and security as a development enabler, the review will provide the baseline for mainstreaming peacebuilding in all development programs and projects, including devolution. Coming against the backdrop of the 2020 Global Review of the UN Peacebuilding Architecture, the national reflection on peacebuilding practice will reinforce Kenya’s position as a global and regional leader and galvanize UN and international support, which could open doors to new international resources to support peacebuilding and sustaining peace.’’ General Opanda told the Committee 

On the Objectives of the review the NSC Committee affirmed to the lawmakers that, the independent review will assess the strengths and weaknesses of the peacebuilding architecture as currently constituted at the national and subnational level and explore ways to enhance its responsiveness and performance. The review will assess the role of the architecture in regional peacebuilding arrangements, including within the African Union, IGAD, the EAC and other.

The forward-looking review will also focus on providing recommendations to government institutions, civil society, regional and international peacebuilding and development partners on paths to strengthen, review or harmonize the peace architecture; enhance coordination of peacebuilding functions in devolved units, deepen national ownership of peacebuilding, prioritize and mainstream peacebuilding in development and rethink sustainable financing models.

Legislators recommended that, once the NSC is done with the report they should share with the Joint Committee for review before presidential assent.