ACT!(Act Change Transform)

The main aim of this strategic priority area is to contribute to harmonious and peaceful coexistence amongst communities and people groups. Act! will under this pillar focus on:
a) Peace Building, Conflict Management and Conflict Transformation
b) Preventing and Countering Violent Extremism

In the recent years, Kenya has witnessed a new wave of violent extremism that has claimed the lives of many innocent people. Such acts whether based on political, religious or ethnic grounds all result from extremist ideologies that glorify the supremacy of certain groups over a more inclusive society.

With the continued increase of resource- based conflicts, radicalization and violent extremism, citizen-state conflicts among other conflicts in Kenya, peoples’ livelihoods continue to be highly vulnerable. There is a great need to device proper mechanisms to mitigate conflicts/disputes while enhancing efforts towards reconciliation and peaceful coexistence. In this regard, Act! continues to advocate for dialogue as a key conflict resolution mechanism while prioritising women and youth not excluding the most vulnerable and disadvantaged groups.

The main objective for this undertaking is to assist target communities resolve conflicts peacefully and discourage use of violence to this effect. The identification and inclusion of women and youth in this fight is very crucial as they equally help mitigate or propagate conflicts and violent extremism. Act! has identified the essence of their inclusion which has initiated the journey to conflict transformation. The youth are usually the target for inclusion into violent extremism acts in exchange for sustainable livelihoods. The loss of livelihoods for many and especially during this period of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, has been a great contributor towards the increase in violent extremism acts.

Act! continues to channel its energy towards involvement of the youth in peace building activities and projects which is an ongoing drive towards countering violent extremism. The women having understood their roles in our society today have equally proven needful in the countering of violent extremism. Prior to and during the 2017 general elections, Act! was actively in advocating for peaceful elections to help mitigate political conflicts whilst encouraging citizen participation and engagement in the entire electoral process.

Lastly, Act! in collaboration with Mathare Peace Kenya in a recent project dubbed “Usalama Kijijini” in Mathare, worked towards enhancing peaceful coexistence between the landlords and their tenants using dialogue as the mechanism while working towards more sustainable livelihoods particularly during this pandemic period.