In the month of February 2014, two Peace Circles took place in two areas within Nakuru County, Kenya. The issue of searching for inner peace, forgiveness and inner healing remain a highlight in the programme.
Enough is enough, it’s time we took charge and change this community ourselves. Those are the words uttered by the women of Naivasha, during the recently held Creators of Peace Circle workshop in that area. The three day workshop took place in Naivasha Kenya, from 10 - 12 February 2014, with a total of 20 participants (five being men). The inclusion of men in the circle was due to the marvellous requests to have male participants from the previous circles. The women insisted that if their husbands too could be allowed to attend the circles, things would be much better in terms of creating peace in the family and that they too (men), could be able to also spread peace in the ‘maskani’ (meeting joints). Indeed it proved awesome having them amidst the women and having them share their experiences.
Naivasha is among the hotspot areas in Kenya where even a small wrong move would trigger massive violence and damage. This has been witnessed in the past, during the 2007/2008 post election violence. Even after that, there has been the issue of land for pasture for the Maasai pastoralists and the farmers who want the same land for farming. The area being cosmopolitan, we therefore hoped that the workshop would enhance self healing, acceptance, forgiveness and reconciliation which would enable the communities there to coexist peacefully and harmoniously.
The participants were taken through the moments of quiet time and reflections for self connection, correction and direction that helped many to be able to acknowledge their contributions to the problems (conflicts), learn to apologize, forgive and embrace each other to live in harmony.
‘I use to be a very bitter person and actually forgiveness to me was a vocabulary. An eye for an eye was the way to go all my life but now am feeling touched and am convinced that forgiveness is the path to healing. I have learnt communication puts issues on the table and enables people to talk about it and get solutions’, said Elizabeth, one of the participants.
Isaac, a community worker who attended the workshop, had something to say also, ‘I work with the community and most of my work involves listening to people. I never knew that I was a poor listener until this. Now, from today, I commit myself to listening fully before saying anything, judging or giving advice’.
The Peace Ambassadors - Mai Mahiu
27-28 February and 1 March, 2014 marked yet another amazing experience in the Creators of Peace Circles. This was during a three day workshop run in Mai Mahiu town. Mai Mahiu town is in between Naivasha and Narok towns. The workshop brought together 17 women from the different locations of the town and even had two from the Maasai community.
Just like Naivasha, Mai Mahiu also has issues between the Maasai that borders with Narok and the other tribes in the area. This is because the Maasai need the land for their animals’ pastures while the other communities need it for farming. Like most parts of Kenya, this area was also affected by the last general election violence.
The women shared passionately of their personal experiences. As usual, we create time for each participant to share their stories if they have the courage to do it. This experience, though not therapy by itself, has a very therapeutic effect. Each participant’s story is different, unique, important and special in its own way.
One of the participants, 52 year old Hannah, shared her story that left everyone with wet eyes. ‘I was the first born daughter in a family of 10. My parents used to overwork me so much that I never had time to concentrate on my studies. Due to this, I dropped out of school in primary school. My parents would also punish me for every little mistake my siblings did, all in the name of being the first born. I was hired as a house help and my dad could take all the salary to pay for my younger sister’s school fees, forgetting that they denied me a chance to concentrate on my studies and besides that, I was a girl and needed other personal things. As if that was not enough, three years later I was without my consent married off to a 60 year old man. At first, I was made to believe he was my new boss, only to learn later that night that he was my husband and that he had even paid dowry to my parents!’
She continued ‘My dad passed away years later. In my marriage, God blessed me with eight children. My husband also died leaving me with the entire burden to shoulder on my own. Not even my mother could help, in fact she bought another piece of land and made it very clear to me that it was for ‘her’ children (my siblings), leaving me wondering whose child I was. I have lived a bitter life because I knew no one ever cares for me. I knew no one loved me, no one. I have never shared this with anyone in all of my 50 something years. I knew no one cares and no one would even listen to me. I am glad that this forum came, I feel like it came just for me. I am feeling relieved in my heart that you created time and offered ears to listen to me. I have never thought I could ever forgive my family, but now, after this workshop, I will go to my mother’s place and make peace with her. I will forgive her and my dad for discriminating and neglecting me and for marrying me off like that’.
A lot of appreciation goes to Friends of Africa fund that supported this workshops.
Report by Annie Gitu and Esther Inzekellah.