formed part of the peacebuilding process. However, after having seen how poor governance can threaten
the fabric of society to be peaceful and just, there is a need to ensure youth are empowered on ethics as
well as skills and knowledge that will promote good governance to mitigate the risk of violent conflicts in
threat environments.
In Kenya, Impart Change (a local non-profit organization) has trained 40 young women on good
governance and intends to reach more than 150 young women by December 2018. As an organization,
we at Impart Change acknowledge that there is a governance deficit in the country. Our goal is to empower
more women to be leaders. Impart Change encourages women to take up leadership roles because
we believe in their ability to be transparent and accountable in the management of community and
state resources for future generations to come.
Recommendation.
1. A fundamental shift will be vital in the promotion of peace and security looking into the dynamism of
present trends that threaten peace. The new global goals [Sustainable Development Goals] came at a
critical time where goal 16 clearly defines the need to promote peace and justice, together with effective,
accountable, and inclusive institutions. One way of contributing to the achievement of goal 16 would be
investing in good governance programs by youth and for youth to instill responsibility, accountability,
integrity, and transparency.
2. Investment in economic programs should also be accompanied by training on ethics and integrity. This
is an investment in soft power which has a better outcome than investing in hard power, which is draining
much needed financial resources for sustainable development in many countries.
3. Youth also need to be empowered on the rule of law. This includes empowering youth with adequate
knowledge and information on the constitution. This will prepare young people for leadership positions
where they will respect and uphold the constitution, this being a prerequisite for a country’s sustainable
peace and development. Kenya is a country still taking its lessons from the 2007/2008 post-election
violence. A peacebuilding intervention that was employed at the time was constitutional reform which
promotes inclusion and accountability. It is for this reason that efforts should be made to ensure that the
constitution is respected as a prerequisite for alleviating, reducing, and preventing conflicts.
Implications.
If investment is not made to empower youth with good governance skills, knowledge, and information,
there is a likelihood of more complex dynamic threats to peace as a result of poor governance. More young
people will take drastic measures by forming and joining vigilante groups and terror cells. Street
demonstration to demand accountability will become distractive and violent in nature, causing economic
downturn. Poor governance is a cause as well as a consequence of violent conflicts. If the risks associated
with it are not addressed in good time, sustainable peace will remain a distant goal. That will be a thorn in
the development process of any country.
Event Description.
The research is a result of a project supported with the Global Youth Empowerment Fund, an initiative
of the Junior Chamber International and the UN Sustainable Development Goal Campaign. Impart
Change, a local non-profit organization, spearheaded the project research to empower youth with good
governance tools through knowledge and information on the Kenyan Constitution. The organization’s
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