Youth leaders from Muslim and Christian communities gathered last Thursday at the Argyle Hotel in Nairobi for an interreligious dialogue forum hosted by Youths for Muslim and Phyllis Muema in partnership with Search for Common Ground.
The meeting brought together religious youth, faith actors, and civil society to discuss how to build peace, counter hate speech, and protect vulnerable communities through collaboration. Themed “Safeguarding Supporting Process” and “Together for Religious Freedom”
Speakers emphasized the role of young people in bridging religious divides. Organizers said the forum aimed to equip youth with tools to identify early warning signs of conflict, report cases safely, and promote unity ahead of elections and public demonstrations.
Phyllis Muema addressing the media noted the importance of safe reporting mechanisms and interfaith solidarity. Search for Common Ground backdrop underscoring the organization’s support for safeguarding and reporting processes within faith communities.
The dialogue followed Search for Common Ground’s model of bringing different faith groups to find shared values. Participants discussed:
Countering manipulation of religion for political or violent ends,Protecting youth and women from radicalization and GBV ,Strengthening reporting channels for incidents that threaten peace and Promoting religious freedom and mutual respect across communities.
Leaders agreed that “peace is built when communities choose cooperation over division” a message echoed in recent interfaith engagements in Nairobi.
Kenya’s religious leaders have increasingly warned against polarization and the weaponization of faith. Recent national meetings have called on churches and mosques to expand interfaith training for youth.
The Argyle Hotel meeting adds to that momentum by placing youth and Muslim-Christian collaboration at the center of peacebuilding efforts.
Organizers said follow-up activities will include community dialogues, training on safeguarding, and a joint campaign on responsible social media use during election periods
