EJI emphasized on the importance of women staying connected with their children throughout their lives to help them overcome societal challenges that continue to affect many youth as they attain adulthood.

Women are instrumental in children upbringing; they play a key role in child development and therefore their union need to be supported for the well-being of their children in the society. This deliberate gap/bridge can be mending when their capacity are strengthened and built through dialogues and trainings on different issues affecting their communities. Unity between them can help in increasing moderate voices in the community and at the same time encourage economic development.

The population of the unemployed girls and women continue to rise in Kenya due to lack of enough/sustainable white collar jobs to sustain the currently growing population. Many are graduates with Degrees, others are Diploma holders while majority have certificates in different courses. These are people whose hopes and aspirations are merely on getting employed to cater for their needs. These people are mainly concerned with getting jobs as they were trained on employability careers. Their mind-sets are on getting jobs and in the process; they end up hopeless and frustrated. These are a section of bitter people in the society who now don’t see value in education; they are vulnerable and at risk of been lured in joining illegal groups.  These are great people who can be trained, equipped with entrepreneurial skills, helped in changing their attitudes on various ways of utilizing their knowledge in creating wealth for themselves and their families at large.

Moderate voices can be exercised by people who are enjoying their basic rights in the society. There is a continuous increased gap between poor and rich in the society, many slum dwellers/urban village dwellers continue to languish in poverty thus at risk of manipulation, exploitation and misinformed. These are people who are not in a position to measure the information received and not even contemplate on the repercussion of their actions. These are people who are not in a position to neither think nor question what they have heard/told. Religious and political extremists are increasing day by day. The most recent in Kenya being the political extremists that became tribal; these are the people who have suddenly become hostile to each other due to political differences and affiliations. Moderate political voices need to be encouraged and supported to ensure that people are aware of their rights and be respectful to humanity irrespective of their political affiliations. Moderate religious voices need also to be encouraged by using religious contexts to counter misused narratives, use context that respect humanity and encourage cohesion n. There exist dynamics of violence, and violent extremism, they vary from region to region, as do the specific social and political roots of violence. Only by adapting approaches to the specific contexts of each region can aid in developing successful peace building approaches to counter violent and political extremism. This can be done through working with local groups who best know their localities, and by supporting better connections between them and policy institutions to analyze the deeper causes of conflict. It is very important to address the root causes rather than attempting to treat only the symptoms for sustainable peace and development.

Creation of moderate voices and promotion of economic development among women and youth can help in eradicating injustice, poverty, disharmony and conflicts thus yielding more positive impact in the society; this is because women have their children’s interests in their hearts. Women’s perspective should be the core because extremist narratives in patriarchal societies bring socio-economic, political, psychological, sexual, emotional impact on women. These range from verbal abuse to rape. Women are more than 50% of world’s population, they therefore have the right to be part of every decision making process about the future of their families and communities. Historically in our local traditions and culture, women have played an important role for the promotion of social cohesion and harmony in the society. We need to revive our true culture where women have equal rights and participation unfortunately they have suffered the most due to violent extremism. Women and girls can easily collaborate, their union of purpose can change perspective of many; can instill hopes to the hopeless, can help in building bridges that were previously broken, can help in amplifying moderate voices, can help in  developing economy and maintaining peace thus creating a stable and safer country for generations to come. Women are known for always been at the forefront in championing for societal welfare and peace. With the generous support from US Embassy, the empowered women and girls can bring massive positive change and development in the country.

Why Dialogue? To provide an avenue for women and young girls (young mothers) discuss the issues affecting them without fear and intimidation, get local solutions and to network. Get their view on how they can promote economic development and moderate voices in the society. To connect women with security apparatus to discuss parental challenges and issues affecting the society.

Nairobi, Mombasa and Kilfi Women Dialogue Forum; Women agreed that there was hatred between different faiths and tribes since the terminologies used in describing each other was discriminative and fueled more conflicts. Muslim participants felt that their Christian counterparts were calling them lazy, illiterate and backward. The Christians felt bad when Muslims call them Kufar and when they hear ‘Allah Akbar’ they think that they are converging to kill each Christians. During elections, women are mostly used to fuel hatred since they are used to name calling each other i.e. Kehe, Mwizi, Msaliti, Kigeugeu, Muguruki, and watermelon etc. They needed to understand more about jihad and kufar and to be informed if there was jihad in Somalia.

Jihad means ‘holy war’; to strive to do good deeds, to strive to succeed in life, kufar; means pagan, someone without any religious affiliations; they were also informed that in Somalia there was political war, people fighting for leadership and to acquire resources and thus misuse of youth in the name of religion. Most youth recruited were promised good pay and good life, yet the ones who managed to come back have evidently stated that the lifestyle was pathetic, everything contradicted religious teachings.

Demystifying narratives used in radicalization

There is need to empower local women to prevent violent/extremists’ ideology and political extremism through information sharing and trainings of this nature to demystify these terminologies and to discourage women from engaging in divisive politics for peace and stability in the country. Women are supposed to have constant communication with their children, be friendly to their children, and be closer to them in order to understand them better. To empower communities to know that they are all Kenyans and should stay away from political conflict that leads to fight. Women need to be each other’s protector, to have more trainings and forums to educate communities especially the youth on effects of violence. Women should build trust with each as a community, empowered to preach peace at family level, in churches and mosques. To advice the youth on the consequences of joining illegal groups (death and imprisonment). To engage and keep youth busy through arts and nurture talents to avoid idleness.

To empower youth through information to avoid being misused by politicians, to encourage communities to vote wisely to get leaders who have visions, to stop incitements from politicians.

How to promote interfaith, volunteerism and social cohesion among women of different faiths

Women should be sensitized to unite irrespective of their religious affiliations to promote economic development and moderate voices, have regular meetings/seminars on volunteerism, and create safe-space for women to interact and share issues affecting them.  Engage women groups on importance of cohesion, door to door campaign on unity and interfaith, engage in dialogue in churches, mosques and communities, campaign in social media, chief barazas, chamas, posters/fliers. Women can be trained to be counselors to give hope, can do mediation between the warring groups, can educate each other on the importance of cohesion and volunteerism, can advocate for peace, can be role models in the community, can be peacemakers, can give advices when needed to, can talk in one voice as Christians and Muslims.

Women agree that there is great importance of maintaining good work relationship with security apparatus, though many women have fear of facing the security dockets due to lack of confidence and stigmatization associated with working with them.

Good working relationship will help in getting any information pertaining Identity cards, relief foods, old-age allowances, bursaries among other goodies. Most women feel that most security officers are corrupts, biased, sexually abusing women, arrogance, they lack confidentiality among others.

How to acquire leadership for change among women

Leadership for change can be acquired through empowerment of women, by speaking one language as women, be role models to the community and through advocacy work.

Women have numerous factors that hinder them from engaging in economic gains; they lack education in conducting businesses, they lack capital to start businesses what they work for is from hands to mouth especially single mothers. Harassments from city County officials due to lack of important business documents which are expensive. They lack good places to set-up their businesses i.e. rent.  Parents lack school fees to educate their children due to poverty and illiteracy, some parents are widows/widowers, unable to take up responsibilities single handedly, most women are jobless, peer pressure has a big influence on parenting since most teenagers are misbehaving and are not listening to their parents.

Nairobi, Mombasa and Malindi Women Leaders Consultative Forum meeting were conducted, aimed at bringing the local leaders/stakeholders together to understand what Engage Jamii Initiatives is, programs implemented and the upcoming programs. This is because the EJI believes in communal unity and togetherness in achieving its intended program objectives.

Being a festive season, most of the government officials were involved in vetting exercise; however Madam Glory Kamungi, District Officer Pumwani, represented the government agency. She applauded the initiative and encouraged women to embrace opportunities coming their ways for their stability and growth. She also advised women to be very keen and responsible parents to minimize crime cases and the recruitment of youth in radical groups. She urged parents to work closely with security apparatus for peaceful nation.

The Chairlady gave a welcoming speech, thanking the participants for finding time out of their busy schedule to attend and again by obeying the weather which was cold and rainy. The participants were well represented since they consisted of   leaders from different communities and areas thus the Kamukunji and Dagoretti Constituency was well represented. They introduced themselves on the community work they are engaged in with majority doing a lot on children rights.

The Director spoke about EJI and the previous program on economic empowerment that benefited over 60 women from Huruma/Kariobangi and Kawangware. She stated on the upcoming program activities that are geared towards promotion of economic development and creation of moderate voices among women and girls in Kenya. The Program will be implemented in 3 counties: Nairobi, Mombasa and Kilifi. In Nairobi, the program will have representatives from Kawangware and Pumwani therefore the   program venue will be alternating for fair inclusivity and exposure to the targeted groups.

 Salim Juma is Community Leader; he moderated the session and led the discussion by members contributing towards the upcoming EJI programs.

How to engage women and girls in the Promotion of Economic Development

• There was need to identify peoples passion, strength and weaknesses before granting them capital.
• Participants should be equipped with business skills.
• Background check is important to understand people’s interest and attitudes in the society.
• Training should be considerate of peoples’ interests in terms of training hours.
• Bring people together, challenge them to know each other, understand their capacity and if they are ready to work as a team (unity).
• Creativity should be emphasized to avoid copying of businesses from each other.
• Embracing technology is a must for growth of business.
• People should explore their potential in businesses before employing others.
• Business ideas should be localized for uniqueness and success.
• Business ideas should not be initiated; the community itself should come up with such ideas according to their interests.
• Culture of saving and investments should be encouraged for business growth and maximization of profit.
• Marketing and branding should be supported for sustainability.
• There should be follow ups on any business supported.

Factors that hinder women and girls in the Promotion of moderate voices in Kenya

• Absentee parents especially fathers who leave many responsibilities to mothers
• Address too busy mothers (Single mothers) who lack time for their children
• Cultural negativity (‘Uswahilism’)
• Lack of Mentors
• Peer pressure
• Poverty perception yet its laziness
• Some decisions make women incapacitated leading to psychological and economical violence
• Child labor especially on foreign children
• Losing hope
• Family pressure to youth to fend for them after class 8/form 4
• Misuse of religious concepts on Jihad and religious chapter
• Tame idleness among youth and women
• School drop outs be addressed and perpetrators punished
• Work on early marriages
• Address prostitution among young girls and boys
• Negligence by parents addressed
• Address violent /political extremism
• Tackle health issues i.e. HIV/Aids

Challenges faced in group-based businesses

• Loaning through friendship and failure to repaying loans
• Confrontations/fights due to failure in repayment of loans thus enemity
• Dependence of business for every expenditure thus from hand to mouth
• Book keeping challenges
• Lack of information of opportunities available for women
• Lack of business strategy
• Inherited business that does not grow
• Lack of exhibition opportunities
• Work on community perceptions on self employment
• Lack of capital to start business

Solutions in Promotion of moderate voices and economic empowerment

• Training on parenting be initiated; Parenting is a communal role therefore culprits should be brought on board
• Demystify the misused religious concepts for religious harmony and have interfaith dialogue among women of different faiths.
• Be open to dialogue with children, be a true Muslim and follow religious teachings and stop mixing Swahili culture with religious culture
• Support education of our children and report those denying children the opportunity to be in school
• Have mentorship programs at community level
• Unlearn societal negativity for the betterment of the community
• Embrace technology in business and address effects of technology in child upbringing especially through inappropriate use of phones by youth.
• Break the cycle of being in un-functional marriage due to suffering emotionally and psychologically.
• Open up market and exhibition opportunities for local businesses.
• Include boy child in the program to avoid problems associated with negligence by men in marriages
• Provide opportunities for girls through camping programs for mentorship
• Supervise our kids and monitor their behavior and movements.