Hundreds of Saku youth on Tuesday attended a forum on youth advocacy for climate action and peacebuilding meant to empower young people to become peace ambassadors and environmental conservators.
They were encouraged to be self-reliant and work towards developing the county.
Marsabit County inter-peace coordinator Hassan Omar urged the youth to be ambassadors of peace and social cohesion to foster unity in the region.
He asked them to eschew violence and embrace peace, saying it is only a peaceful atmosphere that can guarantee meaningful development and economic prosperity for all.
"Youth should embrace peace, and inclusion and shun violence as future leaders of the nation," said Omar.
He cautioned young people not to allow themselves to be used by selfish politicians to instigate violence and cause trouble.
"As young people of this county, you should embrace peace, be productive and be responsible to society," he said
Omar called on youth to take advantage of government opportunities and form groups to increase their chances of benefitting.
He challenged young people to be the engine that drives peace and development in the county, saying meaningful participation of the youth in peacebuilding initiatives is fundamental to achieving a cohesive, peaceful and secure society.
"Youth should be engaged in peace-building initiatives. Youth participation has shown to be a critical element for the achievement of sustainable peace," said Hassan.
Childfund emergency response officer Fancy Obuya called on the youth to shun violence and embrace peace and unity for sustainable development.
"Peace and harmonious coexistence remain an indispensable catalyst to meaningful development. Lack of peace retards socioeconomic advancement," said Obuya.
She urged the government to redouble its efforts to counter insecurity and incorporate youth in peace-building initiatives, saying there is a need to end the hatred that undermined development in the region.
Obuya stressed that the youth should be taught to use their energy for productive activities.
She said such a forum where youth leaders were engaged would allow them to put forward some challenges faced by their peers.
She asked the youth to initiate tree-planting initiatives and assured her organization of support.
The Marsabit initiative for progressive change boss Hassan Mulata called on youth to be peace ambassadors to ensure unity and progress.
He urged youth to shun negative actions and other vices that can lead to violent reactions and become agents of peace wherever they find themselves.
"Youth have a lot to contribute in ensuring a peaceful atmosphere in the county," he said
Mulata said as catalysts of social networking and interaction, youth have a key role to play in uniting the county.
He said young people are not only victims of climate change but they are also contributing to climate action, adding that they are agents of change.
Youth leader Abdiaziz Boru said young people who attended the forum have pledged to be ambassadors of peace in their communities.
"We as youth should be recognized for our potential as people who can make a change and build peaceful relations in our communities," said Abdiaziz.
He said youth should be allowed to play a bigger role in the process of achieving reconciliation and social cohesion and allow them to express their concerns.
"The forum taught us a lot and we will spread it amongst our peers. We will be ambassadors of peace in our areas," he said
While addressing participants, community elder Frederick Lekesike urged the youth to take an interest in youth and commit themselves to building peace.
He urged the youth to be peace ambassadors and promote the country's socioeconomic development.
"Peace was an essential factor in the development agenda of any society," he said
Frederick advised youth to desist from social vices saying the development of the county depends on young people.
The youth planted trees as a sign of uniting and commitment to the county's cohesion and peaceful coexistence.