INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE: PEACE MUST BECOME A DAILY CHOICE FOR EVERY KENYAN

PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
21 Sept 2026

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PEACE: PEACE MUST BECOME A DAILY CHOICE FOR EVERY KENYAN

Nairobi, 21 September 2026 — As the world marks the International Day of Peace under the theme “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day,” Development Through Media (DTM) calls on Kenyans to recognise that peace is not simply the absence of violence or conflict. Peace is a daily practice rooted in dignity, inclusion, justice, dialogue, tolerance and the ability of people to live together despite their differences.

This message is particularly important as Kenya moves towards the 2027 General Election. Recent peacebuilding initiatives across the country have already placed renewed emphasis on dialogue, grassroots engagement and preventing political mobilisation from becoming a source of violence and division.

For Kenya, the lessons of previous electoral cycles should remind us that peace cannot be manufactured when elections are around the corner and forgotten once the ballots are counted. Peace must be built continuously — in our homes, schools, workplaces, communities, places of worship, political spaces and digital platforms.

Every Kenyan has a role to play.

Political leaders have a responsibility to compete without turning communities against one another. Political competition is an essential part of democracy, but disagreement should never become an excuse for hatred, intimidation or violence. Leaders must demonstrate that it is possible to pursue political interests while respecting the dignity and rights of those who hold different views.

Citizens, too, must recognise their agency. We should not allow ourselves to become instruments of political division. Our ethnic, religious, generational and political differences should not be manipulated to create enemies where there are fellow citizens. Democracy gives us the right to disagree, but peace requires that we learn to disagree without dehumanising one another.

Young people are particularly important in this conversation. They are often portrayed as either victims or perpetrators of political violence, yet this framing overlooks their enormous potential as peacebuilders. Young Kenyans can use their creativity, technology, networks and influence to challenge hate speech, counter misinformation, promote dialogue and build bridges across communities. They must be seen not merely as targets of peace campaigns, but as partners and leaders in building peaceful communities.

The media also carries a profound responsibility. In an increasingly digital political environment, information can unite communities, but it can also deepen mistrust and hostility. Journalists, content creators and citizens using social media must resist the temptation to amplify inflammatory content simply because it attracts attention. Responsible journalism and responsible digital citizenship require verification, context, fairness and a commitment to human dignity.

Peace also requires that we confront the conditions that create frustration, exclusion and hopelessness. A peaceful society is one in which citizens feel that their voices matter, their rights are protected and they have a meaningful stake in their country’s future. Investment in peace must therefore include investment in education, livelihoods, social protection, justice, inclusion, accountable institutions and opportunities for young people.

As Kenya prepares for 2027, we must broaden our understanding of electoral peace. Peace is not merely the absence of violence on election day. It is the presence of trust, tolerance, fairness, dialogue and respect throughout the entire electoral cycle. It means allowing citizens to organise, speak, assemble, campaign and participate without fear. It means accepting political differences without turning them into social divisions.

DTM therefore calls on government institutions, political actors, civil society organisations, religious leaders, the media, communities and citizens to make peace a continuous national project. Early dialogue must replace last-minute crisis management. Community voices must be heard before tensions escalate. Young people must be given meaningful platforms to shape the peace and democratic agenda. And citizens must be equipped with the knowledge and confidence to reject political manipulation, hate speech and violence.

The International Day of Peace reminds us that peace is not the responsibility of governments and international organisations alone. It is built by ordinary people through everyday choices — how we speak about those who disagree with us, how we respond to misinformation, how we resolve disputes, how we treat our neighbours and how we participate in public life.

Kenya does not need to wait for conflict before investing in peace. We must invest in peace today, tomorrow and every day.

As we look towards 2027, let us choose dialogue over division, inclusion over exclusion, dignity over dehumanisation and democratic participation over violence. Let us make peace not merely a slogan for one day, but a way of life.

Peace is everyone’s responsibility. Peace begins with each of us.

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Signed:

Ms Dommie Yambo-Odotte,
Executive Director and Producer
Development Through Media (DTM)
“Empowering Communities Through Information, Participation, and Social Transformation.”

For Media Inquiries contact:
Communications Desk
Email: info[at]dtmafrica.com
Websites: https://www.dtmafrica.com; https://radiobaraza.org

About DTM
Development Through Media (DTM) is a pioneer media-based, not-for-profit Civil Society Organisation (M-CSO) in Kenya, dedicated to harnessing the power of media and communication for inclusive and transformative development. Through partnerships, capacity building, content creation, dissemination and advocacy, DTM empowers citizens—including youth and marginalised communities in the rural and urban areas—to actively participate in shaping the social, economic, and political decisions that affect their lives.