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Scouts help inspire peace in Kenya

05/08/2008

President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya has revealed how Scouting helped inspire peace in Kenya after the violence that gripped the country in January this year.

The Head of State made his remarks at State House Nairobi while officiating the Kenya Scouts Association Patron's Day on Saturday.

Kibaki credited Scouting's beliefs in peace and diversity as being an inspiration for rebuilding the country.

He said the Scouting spirit of friendship informed the decision of political leaders to form a coalition government and share the responsibility of providing leadership to the country.

'The loss of lives and destruction of property in the country was a painful lesson that underscores the need for all of us to embrace peace and harmony,' the President said.

'I wish, therefore, to take  this opportunity to emphasise the need for us to popularise the Scouting Movement amongst the young. As we all appreciate, Scouting, as an educational movement, helps young people to grow into responsible people.'

Violence erupted across Kenya after a disputed presidential poll in late December last year.

About 1,500 people died in clashes, a  further 600,000 were displaced and 140,000 people are still homeless.

After political pressure from the African Union, USA and Britain a power-sharing government was formed in April, ending months of political deadlock that followed the disputed vote.

Scouts from both Hampshire and Northamptonshire helped support Kenyan Scouts in providing aid relief during the troubles. You can read about the the work of Northamptonshire Scouts in the April/May Scouting magazine, Hampshire Scouts efforts were reported on scouts.org.uk in June this year.

 

 

Comments

By dale buchanan on 05/08/2008 22:04 I am a scout from scotland and our troop has just returned from an expadition to Kenya just this week. During the run up to the trip we were going through difficulties in deciding on the safety of the trip due to the disruption within the countrie. but in the end we decided that we would be able to make the trip and what a trip it was. i would like to thank the kenyan scouts for helping make it possibkle and it was an experiance that i will never forget

By Garry Leach on 20/10/2008 17:23 Well done to Hampshire and Northamptonshire. I have just returned this weekend from a pre-visit to Kisii where my District will be going next July/August to take part in a project to help build a safe house for the street kids. We have joined with a charity called "Harambee for kenya". Whilst in Kisii we rescued 8 kids off the streets last Tuesday and they are now placed in a temporary safe house until the new house is opened next week. The plight of these children is truly shocking and I have some other stories that would shock the most hardy. What you have done to help in kenya is great and any other Scouts from Britain going to Kenya can do nothing but good to help in these difficult times. We have been asked to help start up a new Scout Group in Kisii with the support of locals. It will be called the 1st Nyokoe Scout Group. Our involvement initially will be to fund the purchase of 30 uniforms and when we arrive next July, there will be an opening and a mass investiture. I hope more Districts take the plunge and go Kenya. Good luck with future projects. Garry Leach Project leader - Lewisham Manor District Kenya Expedition 2009 Greater London South