The Garissa County Government is strengthening women-led peacebuilding efforts through a new initiative aimed at detecting and addressing conflict risks before they escalate into violence.
Peace committee members drawn from Galbet and Waberi locations, alongside members of the Garissa Sub-County Peace Committee, have completed a two-day training focused on conflict prevention, early warning systems and inclusive mediation.
The training, held at Tana Gardens from September 1 to 2, was organized by the Directorate of Peace, Community Cohesion and Prevention of Radicalization as part of ongoing efforts to build stronger community-based peace structures across the county.
Chief Officer Fardosa Adow emphasized the need to equip local communities with the skills and tools required to identify emerging tensions and respond promptly.
“Strong local peace structures are essential because communities are often the first to recognize signs of conflict. Equipping them with the right skills can help prevent disputes from escalating,” she said.
Director of Peace, Community Cohesion and Prevention of Radicalization Abdullahi Idle said the county is shifting from a reactive approach to a preventive model of peacebuilding.
“We are moving from waiting for conflict to escalate before responding. Our committees must be able to read the warning signs, understand what is happening in their communities and act early before a dispute becomes a crisis,” he said.
Participants received training in conflict analysis, early warning mechanisms, mediation techniques and community-led action planning. The programme also focused on strengthening the participation of women, youth and marginalized groups in local peace processes.
By the end of the training, participants had enhanced their capacity to identify conflict drivers, develop inclusive mediation strategies and formulate community-owned action plans aimed at preventing disputes and promoting social cohesion.
Mr. Ahmed Ali, one participant noted that the training had transformed the way peace committees approach their work.
“Most of the time, peace committees come in when conflict has already escalated, not during the early stage when it could still be prevented. Now, we have learnt to analyse and take action early,” the participant said.
The initiative is being implemented under the NABAD WADAAG Project through the Women, Peace and Security Programme. It is spearheaded by the Pastoralist Girls Initiative (PGI) in partnership with the Garissa County Government’s Department of Peace, Community Cohesion and Prevention of Radicalization and Act Change Transform (Act!).
The project is funded by the Embassy of Denmark in Kenya and Somalia and seeks to amplify the voices of women, youth and marginalized groups in peacebuilding while strengthening local structures capable of identifying and responding to conflict risks.
The programme’s partners say the long-term goal is to build resilient and inclusive peace structures that can address tensions early, foster dialogue and contribute to lasting peace and stability across Garissa County.
