Muthamaki Dominic Ng’era of the Kiama kia Ma (Kikuyu Elders Council) addresses the dignitaries at Joseph Otieno’s office as they take late lunch, after the elderly members had left the venue. Photo/Home News
By Wanjohi Nderitu
A public meeting in Nyahururu brought together more than 2,000 elderly citizens, most frail and sickly, under the banner of peace—but as the day wore on without food, water, or the promised stipends and land, questions began to mount.
The elders had allegedly been asked to pay membership fees, only to be left hungry, fainting, and confused.
Ambassador Cardinal Professor Eugene Kavune Nzabonimba, the Africa Head for the Eurasia Afro Chamber of Commerce (EACC)—who is heavily involved in high-level diplomacy, peace initiatives, and international relations between Africa and Eurasia—and Dr Princess Maria Tosin Adekola from Nigeria, have now responded.
Their message is categorical: neither they nor the global office had authorized any fees or promises of stipends or land.
The Global Supreme President of the Global Union of Peace and Development (GUPD), Ambassador Cardinal Professor Eugene Kavune Nzabonimba, has issued a stern warning to grassroots peace ambassadors against misrepresenting the organization’s programs and spreading misinformation regarding its aims and outcomes for targeted regions, particularly in Laikipia County.
The warning follows a media report based on a journalist’s on-the-ground observations, interviews with elders, and official written speeches from a function in Nyahururu last week. The report detailed how more than 2,000 elderly citizens, most of whom were frail and sickly, were introduced as peace ambassadors at the event.
According to the story, the elders alleged they had been asked by the local Nyahururu office to pay membership fees of at least Ksh 100 each to be registered as members of a community-based organization. They also claimed that promises had been made regarding maintenance stipends and settlement on lands courtesy of visiting dignitaries.
We were there to promote peace
Reacting to the report, Dr. Princess Maria Tosin Adekola, Personal Assistant and Chief of Staff at GUPD, who graced the Nyahururu meeting, expressed deep disturbance over the allegations. In a categorical statement, she distanced herself and the global leadership from any financial demands or promises of land and stipends.
“I want to categorically state here that neither Princess Maria Tosin Adekola nor the Global President collect money for registration from anyone, and no stipends were promised at the meeting,” she declared.
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Princess Maria emphasized that her office operates with the highest integrity and would never condone such behavior. She clarified that her mission to Nyahururu was solely to propagate peace initiatives and inspire local communities to embrace programs that would ultimately bring prosperity and peaceful coexistence among them.
“All we went there for is to carry out visibility studies, promote peace, mediate among communities, and strategize on how we can help and support the community,” she said.
Honorary doctorates for peace champions
During the same meeting, Princess Maria officiated at the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees by prestigious American universities to two local dignitaries, in recognition of their sustained efforts in promoting peace within their respective localities.
The awards, which added a solemn and celebratory dimension to the gathering, were intended to encourage grassroots leadership in conflict resolution and community cohesion.
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The two recipients were honored for their unwavering commitment to bridging divides, mediating disputes, and fostering harmony among neighboring communities—a gesture that Princess Maria described as “a testament to what dedicated local leadership can achieve.”
Those who received honorary doctorates in Theology, Peace & Humanitarian Dignity were former chief of Leshau Location in Ndaragwa constituency, Nyandarua, Amb. Dr. Mary Wamucii Wahome (Eirenica International University) and Amb. Dr. Josiah (International Kingdom University, Florida, USA).
Misrepresentation condemned
Ambassador Nzabonimba, who called The Home News on the morning of Monday, April 13, to express his concern, said he was deeply troubled that many elders appeared unaware of their supposed recruitment as Peace Ambassadors under the umbrella of the Laikipia Peace Ambassadors CBO, an affiliate of GUPD.
The report indicated that some elders had fainted from hunger and lack of medication while being kept waiting the whole day without even a bottle of water.
“This miscommunication undermines our mission,” Nzabonimba stated emphatically. “Let it be clear: neither Princess Maria Tosin Adekola nor the Global President solicited any funds for registration from individuals, nor were any stipends promised during our meeting. Our sole purpose was to conduct visibility studies, foster peace, mediate among communities, and devise strategies for supporting and uplifting our community.”
He added: “Our affiliates should not solicit money from members in any way. Anybody going contrary to the objective of the programme will be legally dealt with. As men of God, we have a duty to tell our people the truth.”
Laikipia peace drive and transparency
During the Nyahururu meeting, officials of the Laikipia Peace Ambassadors CBO had claimed that plans to purchase a 12.5-acre land in Nyahururu town, where Laikipia High School stands, were at an advanced stage. However, sources close to the school termed the claim as false, stating that neither the buildings nor the land were on sale.
Nzabonimba reaffirmed Laikipia County’s significance as a key pilot project for peacebuilding in Kenya. The county, known for its rich cultural diversity and history of conflict—including land disputes, encroachment, livestock theft, and inter-ethnic violence among the Kikuyu, Maasai, Samburu, Kalenjin, and Turkana communities—has been identified as a priority area for the organization’s initiatives.
He championed a grassroots, bottom-up approach to resolve recurring conflicts between agricultural and pastoralist communities.
“Locally-driven peace initiatives are essential for addressing the frequent conflicts in the area,” he said. “We are in a global village. Our partners and everybody desire peace, and the global community is happy with Kenya.”
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Asked what programmes the organization has so far initiated, Nzabonimba explained that GUPD is currently assessing the situation on the ground, insisting that genuine understanding can only arise from direct engagement with local communities and government officials.
“For now, we are doing assessment. You cannot undertake any project without assessment and visibility study—a fundamental principle recognized and practiced across the globe, transcending borders and cultures,” he said.
He added: “We shall have consultative meetings with the government officials in Nyahururu and Laikipia so they get to understand firsthand what we are doing so we work together.”
Nzabonimba acknowledged the need for a collaborative relationship with local government officials, emphasizing that effective peacebuilding cannot occur in isolation.
“We plan to conduct consultative meetings in Nyahururu and Laikipia to clarify our intentions and seek alignment with governmental objectives. We cannot go anywhere without working with the government. Citizens belong to God and the government,” he emphasized.
Accountability and way forward
Despite the uncertainty surrounding material or financial support for peace ambassadors, Ambassador Nzabonimba remains optimistic about securing partnerships with global entities to boost their initiatives.
He stressed that future peace engagements must be grounded in accountability, proper communication, and clear structures that prevent misrepresentation at grassroots level.
As GUPD aims to pave the way for genuine peace initiatives in Laikipia, Ambassador Nzabonimba’s clarion call reminds all involved that transparency and collaboration are essential components for fostering real progress and understanding within communities striving for peace.
Through open communication, mutual respect, and genuine collaboration, the dream of a peaceful future becomes not just an aspiration but an achievable reality for the residents of Laikipia.
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