Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen speaking during the launch of the National Mediation at Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies at the University of Nairobi on September 21, 2026 / MINAThe government has launched a National Mediation Hub to promote peaceful dispute resolution and preventive security in learning institutions across the country.
The hub, launched at the Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies at the University of Nairobi, is part of the Jukwaa la Wasomi initiative.
It is expected to connect more than 30,000 campus and school-based mediation hubs with National Government Administration Officers and other government agencies.
The initiative seeks to enable learning institutions to address grievances, prevent student unrest and respond to challenges through dialogue and mediation rather than force.
The launch coincided with the graduation of Certified Professional Mediators trained under the Jukwaa la Wasomi Mediation and Preventive Security Training Programme.
The event also marked the 2026 International Day of Peace and the second annual Jukwaa la Wasomi Summit. The National Mediation Hub had been announced as part of the September 21 ceremony.
Speaking during the ceremony, Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen said the programme would be important as Kenya approaches the 2027 General Election.
Interior CS Kipchumba MMurkomen,among other leaders, during the launch of the National Mediation at Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies at the University of Nairobi on September 21, 2026 / MINAMurkomen said political emotions were likely to rise in learning institutions as students express different political views.
“Emotions will run high, including in campuses where students will express different political views. Do not be passive observers. Be instruments of peace. Where there are hostile debates, sow civility. And where there is anger, sow calm,” he said.
The CS also raised concern over the manipulation of students by political actors, saying some students could be recruited to cause violence during political activities.
“Before politicians go to their rallies, they go and mobilise students, which is okay. That’s definitely okay, because those are voters. Unfortunately, some of them do so with the aim of turning some of our students into goons,” Murkomen said.
He urged the trained mediators to identify such situations early and help prevent students from being exploited by political actors.
Murkomen also announced a framework that will give student leaders and academic administrators a formal role in security decision-making.
“We are unveiling a new framework that brings student leaders and academic administrators directly into security and intelligence committees. For the first time, the voice of students will be at the table where decisions about their safety are made,” he said.
He added that the government plans to institutionalise Jukwaa la Wasomi within two weeks.
Murkomen said universities had historically provided a platform for young people to debate ideas and national issues, but argued that university politics had, in some instances, shifted towards smaller-group interests.
He said the initiative would seek to promote nationalism and remind students to prioritise national interests.
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen among other leaders during the launch of the National Mediation at Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies at the University of Nairobi on September 21, 2026 / MINAPrincipal Secretary for Higher Education and Research Dr Beatrice Inyangala said the summit should provide an opportunity to address the challenges facing young people.
“How do we build greater trust? How do we make dialogue part of our everyday culture? And how do we equip young people to handle disagreements constructively?” she asked.
Inyangala also cited research indicating that 90 per cent of students had experienced violence either as perpetrators or victims. She said women accounted for 65 per cent and men 35 per cent of those affected.
The Jukwaa la Wasomi programme is a government-led initiative implemented across learning institutions through the Universities and Colleges Students' Peace Association of Kenya (UCSPAK) in collaboration with the Ministry of Interior and National Administration.
Its partners include the Executive Office of the President, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the Judiciary, and other government ministries, departments, and agencies.
The programme was initially established as the Zero Radicalisation Campaign before being mainstreamed into the national security system.
Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen among other leaders during the launch of the National Mediation at Wangari Maathai Institute for Peace and Environmental Studies at the University of Nairobi on September 21, 2026 / MINA
