Peace Circles continue in Kenya

Creators of Peace (CoP) have continued to spread and transform women and their families and friends in Kenya. In the months of June and July, three workshops were facilitated and 50 women and seven men had the opportunity to go the through the ‘simple but transformative’ Creators of Peace Circles process. Every workshop runs for three full days.

Annie Gitu from Nakuru who has been the main facilitator writes:

Subukia

Despite the heavy rain and the muddy roads I reached Subukia safely and met our 21 participants - 18 women and three men. We took the participants through the different Peace Circles gatherings and the impact was huge.  

During one of the times of reflection one of the participants by the name of Lilian was really moved by the workshop. ‘I wish all women in Subukia could get this training. Subukia could be very peaceful. I will share with those that have not gotten this message from this workshop,’ she said.

Another participant, Grace, a chief in Subukia said, 'This workshop has really helped me because in listening to others it will guide me in how to listen and handle cases brought before me.'

Madam District Officer, Mrs Ndemo, heard about  the programme and said she would love to attend specifically the session on forgiveness and to come as a critique!  She was touched and ended up sharing her personal story and said, ‘I am excited by the way you Creators of Peace handle the power of forgiveness. I wanted to see how you do it - I had thought it is the normal forgiveness as done by some churches whereby people are not really convicted to forgive and apologize but are told to go up to the pulpit and be prayed for.'  

Olkalau

In Gichaka, Olkalau, the 18 participants (two being men) were very excited with the programme. As the workshop continued, the women shared their experiences. One participant by the name of Naomi said, 'I have gone to so many seminars, even church seminars, but this one has conquered all the others.'

Another lady, Ann, felt in her heart that this workshop had specifically come for her sake. ‘This workshop,’ she shared, ‘has assisted me in how to solve and handle a very difficult decision between me and my husband. For five years we have lived in the same house but without talking to each other after I learnt my husband had had an affair with another lady. I have been very bitter for so long but after going through the power of forgiveness session, I have written a letter to him forgiving him and asking him that we should forgive one another.’  She later  presented the letter to her husband and told us, ‘My husband broke down in tears and I broke down as well. We forgave each other and now we are talking to each other after five years!  My husband is now very interested in the programme because he said that it is amazing how in just three days I was transformed compared to all the years I have been in the church but I never accepted his apologies. Both my husband and I are so grateful to Creators of Peace; you came because of me. May God bless you.’

The area Chief, who was one of the participants, was very impressed. ‘I would like you to come again and hold the same workshop even for men and youth in my location.’ he said.

Eldoret

In Sugoi, Eldoret I was hosted by Ruth Stephens. The mode of transport locally was motorbike! There the Peace Circle was attended by 18 participants - two of them men - a District Peace Committee member and a Chief of that area.

One participant shared, ‘I have been earning a living by brewing illegal alcohol to support my five children.  After the Creators of Peace training I have decided to stop the illegal business and I will now start selling vegetables.’ 

Another lady, Selina, shared her story with a lot of bitterness but  later came to a peaceful resolution and decision, ‘I am not on good terms with my mother-in-law and my brother in-law. When my husband died, my mother-in-law, accompanied by her sons, chased me and my five children away from the house we had built with my husband and I was left with nothing and nowhere to go. I have struggled so much to educate my children but with a lot of bitterness. I have been touched by this training and I will go to my mother-in-law and her sons and ask them for a meeting so that we can forgive one another.’

 At the end of the workshop, Chief William Lagat said, ‘God has really blessed Sugoi sub-location because we are the first people to get this kind of training.  I am happy to see women being trained in the presence of men because in the past, women could not attend workshops where men were present.  I am proud to see women and men sitting together talking about peace.’ He requested Creators of Peace Circles, through Initiatives of Change, to visit them again to train men and women.

We wish to acknowledge and appreciate Friends of Africa (FoA) for their financial support and to IofC Kenya together with Kenyan CoP members that have contributed in different ways in support of this work.