A workshop for reconciliation, hosted and coordinated by the Centre for Human Rights and Democracy in Kenya took place in September in the country’s Burnt Forest area, with participation from Initiatives of Change.

The four-day workshop was invited by local Kikuyu and Kalenjin community leaders and involved 70 people. An earlier workshop took place in May 2008 in response to the post-election violence which hit Kenya at the beginning of the year.

The Burnt Forest area is in the Rift Valley Province of Kenya. It has been hit many times by tribal violence between the Kikuyu and Kalenjin communities which occupy the area. There were outbreaks in 1992, 1997, 2002, 2007 and, most recently, early this year.

Imam Ashafa and Pastor Wuye participating in peace workshop at Burnt Forest, Keyna

Other organizations had offered peace and reconciliation workshop in the area before but Imam Mohammed Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye, from Nigeria, were specifically invited to return to the area to help with the peace process. Ashafa and Wuye had led rival armed militias in the violence which rocked northern Nigeria during the 1990s during which thousands were killed. Pastor Wuye lost his right hand in the fighting and Imam Ashafa's spiritual mentor and two close relatives were killed. Since then the two men have become reconciled and now lead the Muslim-Christian Interfaith Mediation centre in their town of Kaduna, leading task-forces to resolve conflicts across the country.

The communities had said that they wanted the Nigerians because ‘they speak out of their experiences’.

‘I lost a hand in the fight, but I am standing here today with my Muslim brother Imam Ashafa to bring peace between our faiths’, said Pastor James Wuye. Alan Channer from Initiatives of Change in London was also invited, along with Joseph Karanja from Kenya who is part of the IofC team in Nairobi.

Both communities had powerful stories to share. ‘How do you break the cycle of violence?' was a question addressed by the workshop . If you harbour bad memories, you can encourage the violence to go on. Alternatively, you can recall something good from the other community and realize that revenge is not good.

Marching for peace in Burnt Forest, Kenya

On the last day of the workshop, the elders led a peace march around the community shopping centre with a banner saying ‘In Peace Burnt Forest shall live- Tukae na amani’. (We live in peace) This was to establish a common market for the two communities. The march ended at the newly established peace office in Burnt Forest. An article from the Daily Nation (one of the leading Kenyan newspapers) ran a story on ‘New Market to Unite Area Hit by Chaos’.

Signing the 'Sorry Book' at Burnt Forest Peace Office

A special ‘Sorry book’ was opened to foster reconciliation with those that clashed during the post election violence. This book gave individuals a chance to confess their wrongs anonymously, along with comments, views and suggestions on how to forge reconciliation. This ‘Sorry Book’ was featured on the 7pm Swahili news on the national television station NTV. Both the Kikuyu and the Kalenjin community elders signed and danced outside the office.

'When people see life in spiritual terms, they can really tune in to the power of God to actually and very quickly get a positive response,' reports Wambui Nguyo. 'It’s always a question of redirecting peoples’ spiritual energy. Both the Imam and the Pastor were moved by the positive response from the people. It was a real lift….a sense of release when they signed the Sorry Book.'

‘From this book, we will know people’s feelings and what they want done to ensure lasting peace’, said the coordinator Ken Wafula.