Dialogue Forum Highlights Gains in Protecting Religious Freedom and Strengthening Community-Security Relations
Stakeholders have hailed significant progress in promoting freedom of religion or belief, strengthening community-security relations and advancing human rights following the implementation of the Together for Freedom of Religion or Belief (ToFoRB) Project in Garissa, Lamu and Tana River counties.
Speaking during the National Learning and Policy Dialogue Forum in Nairobi, Kenya Community Support Centre (KECOSCE) Executive Director Phyllis Muema said the two-year programme had strengthened partnerships between government agencies, civil society organisations, faith leaders and local communities, helping build resilience against conflict and violent extremism.
Muema said the initiative focused on protecting freedom of religion or belief, a fundamental right guaranteed under Kenya's Constitution, while ensuring that security operations, particularly counter-terrorism efforts, respect human rights and religious freedoms.
She noted that the project enhanced the capacity of communities to engage with security agencies, promote interfaith dialogue and address conflicts that often arise from religious misunderstandings in the coastal and northern regions.
Muema also highlighted collaboration with the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC), saying the programme helped promote a human rights-based approach to countering violent extremism while addressing grievances that often make young people vulnerable to radicalisation.
She said the initiative encouraged communities to work closely with security agencies to counter extremist narratives and reinforced the message that terrorism has no religion.
The project also partnered with the Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) and the National Steering Committee on Peacebuilding and Conflict Management to improve accountability and rebuild trust between citizens and law enforcement agencies.
Muema acknowledged that while relations between communities and local police officers had improved through dialogue and accountability initiatives, challenges remain due to decisions made at the national level that sometimes undermine community policing efforts.
Meanwhile, Search for Common Ground Kenya Country Director Judy Kimamo said the project had demonstrated that collaboration between communities, religious leaders, women, youth and security actors can effectively promote peace and prevent conflict.
Kimamo said the programme had contributed to policy reforms, strengthened early warning and response mechanisms, improved cooperation between communities and security agencies, and supported the protection of minority religious rights.
She noted that communities had become more actively involved in preventing election-related violence, addressing religious intolerance and promoting peaceful coexistence.
She urged the government, civil society and development partners to sustain the gains made under the programme by strengthening policies that protect religious freedom while enhancing security and social cohesion across the country.
