Labour has demanded an investigation into claims of a cover-up of the killing of a Kenyan woman. Photo PA

A Kenyan woman has won a US award on peacekeeping following her efforts to reduce conflict in pastoralist communities in northern Kenya.

Josephine Ekiru was selected as this year’s winner of the United States Institute for Peace (USIP) Women Building Peace Award for her substantial and practical contribution to building peace. 

“I never knew that one day I will be recognised. All my peace efforts were for future generations. I always desired to have my community and our neighbours co-exist in peace instead of causing pain to each other,” said Ms Ekiru, 34.

The award winner was declared by US Navy Admiral Michelle Howard during a virtual ceremony on October 20.

The award recognises the vital role of individual women who are working every day in pursuit of peace in fragile or conflict-affected countries or regions.

Ekiru expressed her gratitude, noting that her efforts to convene meetings with women, youth and elders have paid off. 

“This award is a call to women, youth and men to embrace peace and do what is right. 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,” she said.

According to Northern Rangeland Trust (NRT), a conservation organisation that works with peacekeeping ambassadors in Northern Kenya through community conservancies, Ekiru’s efforts to nurture peace in northern Kenya are milestones in mitigating and resolving conflicts in the fragile ecosystem while developing resilience in communities through her community conservation model.

“Effective and strategic community peacebuilding 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,” said NRT’s Executive Officer Tom Lalampaa.

Lalampaa said NRT’s Member Community Conservancies witnessed the positive impact that the peace ambassadors achieved by convening 109 meetings with an attendance of over 10,000 participants in 2020. 

“Today there are 80 peace ambassadors across the landscape with 25 of whom are women being led by Ekiru," he said. 

“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. By Jacinta Mutura, The Standard

Police are investigating an incident in which a 17-year-old student at Gathiruini Boys secondary school in Kiambu county, was lynched by girls from a neighbouring school in an attack.

Brian Mbage, a Form 4 student, had together with five others sneaked out of their school, and crept into a girls dormitory at Komothai Girls' secondary school, at around 4am Thursday.

Police and other witnesses say the boys went into Phoeb House hosting almost 50 female students for an unknown mission. 

The boys were spotted by some girls who immediately raised alarm, attracting the attention of the whole school.

The school’s guards, teachers and students all rushed towards the dormitory to find out what was happening.

This prompted the other five boys to escape and managed to trace their way back to their school while the deceased was cornered by the angry students and staff and beaten before he was taken to a local hospital where he succumbed to the injuries.

Police say the victim sustained serious injuries.

Crime scene detectives later visited the scene and recovered planks of wood suspected to have been used to assault the suspect.

The body of the student was taken to a local mortuary ahead of planned postmortem.

This will form part of ongoing investigations, police said.

But even as police probe the matter, Mbage's mother Mary Mbage, has dismissed the mob attack story after viewing her son's body at the Kiambu Level 5 hospital.

She says the school management gave her a different account of events that led to her son's death.

"They told me that he jumped from the fourth floor and sustained injuries," she said.

"I have seen the body of my son and I'm so saddened. The injuries do not show signs of beating but the ones on his head show he died from trauma."

She described her son as hardworking, disciplined and jovial.

Police have cautioned members of the public to desist from taking the law into their hands and accord suspects the opportunity to face justice in a court of law.

Director of Criminal Investigation George Kinoti termed mob lynching criminal saying, “Those caught over the same will be prosecuted.”

Cases of lynching of suspects have been on the rise in various parts of the country amid campaigns to discourage the trend.

The latest incident happened in Kisii last week where four elderly people were lynched over claims of witchcraft.

Four suspects have since been arrested over the incident.

A group of human rights organisations have condemned the trend and asked authorities to address the same. - CYRUS OMBATI, The Star

Additional information from TV47

Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, holds talks with Ugandan parliament speaker Jacob Oulanyah via video link at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 21, 2021. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

China's top legislator Li Zhanshu held talks on Thursday with Ugandan parliament speaker Jacob Oulanyah via video link, calling for a closer relationship between the two countries.

Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said China stands ready to work with Uganda to implement the consensus reached by leaders of the two states, take the opportunity of the upcoming session of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to strengthen unity and coordination, and jointly address challenges to further benefit the two peoples.

Li made three proposals on the development of bilateral relations.

Calling on the two countries to continue enhancing political mutual support, Li said China stands ready to work with Uganda to jointly uphold true multilateralism and safeguard the interests of the two countries and the developing countries.

On deepening practical cooperation, Li said China welcomes Uganda to positively implement the Global Development Initiative, calling on the two countries to enhance cooperation on infrastructure and manufacturing.

On COVID-19 response, Li said China is committed to the pledge of making COVID-19 vaccines a global public good and promoting a fair and equitable distribution of vaccines.

Li said the NPC stands ready to work with the Ugandan parliament to promote greater development of bilateral relations.

He called on the two sides to enhance legislative exchanges on investment, tax and industrial parks, and to share experiences on poverty alleviation and rural vitalization.

For his part, Oulanyah expressed gratitude for the Chinese people's aid and support, and said that the Ugandan parliament is willing to enhance exchanges with the NPC to promote bilateral relations and enhance cooperation in various fields. China Daily