Nairobi, Kenya – The Global Peace Foundation (GPF) Africa Regional Office, under the leadership of Regional Representative Mr. Daniel Juma Omondi, was honored to host a high-level delegation from the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) on a strategic partnership meeting. The delegation was led by the IRCK Executive Director, Mr. Linus Nthigai, and included members Ms. Mariam Saleh and Mr. Anthony Blaze.
The meeting, marked by deep and collaborative dialogue, focused on aligning the organizations’ shared vision for a peaceful, moral, and prosperous Kenya. The discussions centered on expanding the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between GPF and IRCK to address pressing national concerns through a unified interfaith approach.
Key Discussion Areas and Resolutions:
- Strengthening the Core Partnership: Both parties committed to revitalizing and signing an updated MOU. This strengthened agreement will serve as a formal framework for expanded collaboration on critical national issues.
- Transforming Education and Character Building: Leaders deliberated on the urgent need to reform the education system to cultivate character, ethics, and national values among the youth. The discussion referenced recent social trends as a call to action for faith institutions to play a central role in mentoring the next generation.
- Building Strong Families: Recognizing the family as the foundational unit of society, GPF and IRCK pledged to jointly promote its strengthening. Initiatives like the “Building Great Families and Marriages” program will be leveraged to address social decay and nurture responsible citizenship from the household level.
- Countering Radicalism and Promoting “Religious Literacy”: The meeting addressed the dangers of religious extremism and the growing trend of atheism among the youth. The leaders proposed collaborative programs to promote “religious literacy” or “spiritual intelligence”—fostering mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation among different faiths, while emphasizing our common humanity and shared values.
- Advocating for Sensible Religious Regulation: In response to ongoing government efforts to regulate religious institutions, both organizations reaffirmed their stance supporting effective self-regulation by the religious community, as opposed to state-controlled oversight. They emphasized that criminal acts by individuals should be dealt with under existing laws without blanket regulation of faiths.
- Joint Advocacy and Content Creation: To amplify their impact, GPF and IRCK explored launching joint initiatives such as a regular podcast or dialogue series. This platform would feature faith leaders and experts discussing topics like interfaith cooperation, family values, and ethical leadership, reaching a broad audience through digital media.
A Forward-Looking Commitment:
Mr. Daniel Juma Omondi expressed his enthusiasm for the deepened partnership, stating, “Our dialogue today reaffirms that the future of our nation hinges on moral and spiritual renewal. By uniting the transformative power of faith communities through GPF and IRCK, we can address the root causes of social challenges—from the family to the classroom—and build a more harmonious Kenya for generations to come.”
Mr. Linus Nthigai echoed this sentiment, highlighting the timeliness of the collaboration. “This meeting has been pivotal in identifying concrete areas for joint action. Our plan to update the MOU and launch targeted programs on family, youth, and interfaith understanding will significantly enhance our collective contribution to national cohesion and sustainable peace.”
The meeting concluded with a mutual commitment to finalize the updated MOU and to coordinate closely on upcoming joint programs, including potential youth convenings and interfaith dialogues in the new year.