Since early morning more than a thousand people gathered at Nyayo Gardens, in the Nakuru town centre, Kenya. They were called by the Community of Sant’Egidio to meditate and pray for peace. The coming political elections rise a great worry in the population. In fact, in
2007 violent clashes erupted among the different ethnic groups causing more than a thousand dead and thousands of displaced, because of refusing the final result of the elections. The Nakuru district was one of the main areas of the conflict. Several representatives of the different religions and Christian denominations joined the initiative.
The day started with some speeches. Among others, Francis Waithaka, responsible person of the Community in Kenya, made a memory of the commitment of the Community of Sant’Egidio in the field of peace, especially in Africa and in the interreligious dialogue. Then the participants went from the Nyayo Gardens, towards the centre of the town for a walk of more than an hour. At the end, they gathered again in Nyayo gardens to pray. Then they all sang the national anthem to stress once again their common roots beyond religious and ethnic differences, and signed a pledge to peace. |