Josephine Ekiru From Kenya Wins Coveted Women Building Peace Award

Northern Rangelands Trust’s (NRT) Peace Coordinator Joseph Ekiru (34), is this year’s winner of United States Institute for Peace(USIP) Women Building Peace Award.

The award bestows, with the aim of highlighting the vital role of, individual women who are working every day in the pursuit of peace in fragile or conflict-affected countries or regions. The peacebuilder’s efforts must be substantial and practical contribution to peace as an inspiration for future women peacebuilders. Josephine’s efforts to nurture peace in northern Kenya are peace building milestones and interventions that NRT’s member conservancies continue to achieve, to mitigate and resolve conflicts in the fragile ecosystem, while developing resilient communities through the community conservation model.

“I never knew that one day I will be recognised, all my peace efforts were for the future generations. I always desired to have my community and our neighbours co-exist in peace instead of causing pain to each other. This award is a call to women, youth, and men to embrace peace and do what is right. In this world, all we need is inspiration, the award gives us all and especially women an inspiration to not only champion for peace but to be decision makers in our homes and communities while raising children,” says Josephine Ekiru.

Northern Kenya’s conflict is the caused by challenge aridity that brings about scarce resources due to the impact of climate change to pastoral communities.

The interconnected challenges include intensity of inter-community rivalries, the depth pain of loss of household members, property, and communities struggle to support their livelihoods in a harsh environment.

“Effective and strategic community peace building is built on a foundation of inclusive community consultations. Our relationship with community conservancies creates a neutral platform to bring people together for dialogue offering alternative dispute resolution to violence. Through the generous support of USAID, The Nature Conservancy (TNC), The Danish Embassy through Danida, Conservation International (CI) and The European Union (EU) we work with local and national government, conservancy management, elders, women, men, and youth (morans), to facilitate peace meetings, who as well act as Peace Ambassadors,” says NRT’s CEO Tom Lalampaa.

In 2020, NRT member community conservancies, witnessed positive impact that Peace Ambassadors achieved by convening 109 meetings with an attendance of over 10,000 participants.

Today there are 125 peace ambassadors across the landscape with 25 of whom are women being led by Josephine Ekiru. The Women Building Peace Award was presented to her (Josephine) by U.S. Navy Admiral Michelle Howard during a virtual ceremony, on Wednesday 20th October. The ceremony was held at noon, (7.00pm Kenyan time) and paid tribute to women of Afghanistan as well.

“Ms. Ekiru is a heroine, her work to build peace in northern Kenya is a model for all of us,” said Nancy Lindborg, the honorary chair of the Women Building Peace Council.

Involving the community, through their respective community conservancies as an entry point is key in building ownership and flexibility in community engagement, problem solving and securing peace in northern Kenya.