Conflicts in Africa, especially in Sub-Saharan region, have increased for decades. Some of these conflicts have religious, ethnic and political dimensions. Studies also show that these conflicts have left the region even more vulnerable to various effects, including loss of lives and properties and displacement of persons from their native homes.

This situation calls for peace actors to inject even more effort into arresting it before the conflicts spread and more people are affected. It is in this spirit that the Programme for Christian-Muslim Relations in Africa (PROCMURA), in its unique approach, has been employing proactive measures to address the conflicts that have plagued various countries of its operation in Africa like Nigeria, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Liberia, South Sudan, and Kenya among others.

PROCMURA, through its Conflict Prevention, Management, Peace Building and Reconciliation programme, which is anchored on African Union's Aspiration 4 of Agenda 2063, which aspires for "A peaceful and secure Africa", has been carrying out Training of Trainers (ToT) capacity building workshop for various stakeholders who are central in the areas of conflict prevention, resolution and management and general peace-building processes in their countries. They include religious leaders, government officials, the media, and women and youth leaders.

After a successful ToT capacity-building workshop in South Sudan late last year (2022), PROCMURA took its religious peace-building and conflict prevention/management mission to Isiolo County, one of Kenya's adversely affected regions in terms of recurrence conflicts that have had far-reaching implications on the locals.

The workshop provided a much-needed platform for various stakeholders including senior government representatives led by the County Commissioner and his team, religious leaders (both Christians and Muslims), women and youth leaders and the media to identify not only early warning signs of conflicts in their region in a thorough conflict mapping and analysis facilitated by PROCMURA's Team Leader – Finance & Administration Ms Joy Wandabwa but also possible solutions to the same and putting in place a framework for promoting peace and security in the region which is home to more than 300,000 people of various ethnic, political and religious backgrounds, according to government statistics.

_{PROCMURA's Team Leader Ms. Joy Wandabwa shaking hands with the Isiolo County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding after he officially closed the Religious Leaders Capacity Building Workshop in Isiolo.}

As identified during brainstorming sessions in the workshop that ran for two days – March 9th and 10th, 2023, in most cases, the conflicts experienced in Isiolo County and the expansive northeastern Kenya region, have religious, ethnic and political undertones, and stem from cattle rustling as well as locals fighting over scarce resources such as water and pasture for their animals.

The Isiolo County Deputy Commissioner (DCC) Kepha Marube, who officially opened the workshop, applauded PROCMURA for its efforts and unique approach to conflict prevention and management and peace-building across Africa and, more particularly, acknowledged the critical role that interfaith networks and women played in preventing and managing conflicts and thanked PROCMURA for building their capacity in the areas of conflict prevention/management and peace-building. He also challenged the religious leaders present to take up the mantle of peace-building and bring together the warring communities in the county while recruiting more women and young people into their peace-building networks.

In addition, Bishop Stephen Kalunyu of the National Independent Church of Africa (NICA) and Secretary General of the Isiolo Interfaith Network corroborated the DCC's remarks underscoring the need and importance of equipping the religious leaders with the knowledge of not only conflict prevention and management but also peace and peaceful coexistence of communities living together in Isiolo. The Bishop also appreciated PROCMURA for walking with religious leaders at the grassroots and for helping them understand the religious other, something he noted had turned around the levels of hatred before PROCMURA came into the picture.

_{Bishop Stephen Kalunyu engaging the religious and other stakeholders during the workshop.}

At the same time, Sheikh Ahmed Seth, the Chairman of Isiolo Interfaith Network and a Muslim cleric and scholar, lauded PROCMURA for hosting such platforms that bring together religious leaders from across the divide for a noble course.

_{Sheikh Ahmed Seth.}

During his presentation on Quranic foundations of conflict resolution and peace-building, Sheikh Seth reminded participants of the effects of conflicts on the people and called on them to be peace ambassadors in their churches, mosques and any other platform they get.

_{Sheikh Ahmed Seth delivering his presentation.}

Other topics that kept the minds of participants jogging and contributed to the mapping of the course of action and possible solutions to the conflicts that have paralyzed peace in the region for years include 'Biblical foundations of conflict resolution and peace building' and 'building a culture of peace for development' as presented by Rev. Gordon Masara and PROCMURA's Programme Officer Rev. Dr Salli Effungani respectively.

Isiolo County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding, who graced the official closing ceremony of the two days workshop themed; THE ROLE OF RELIGIOUS LEADERS IN PREVENTING /MANAGING CONFLICT FOR PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT IN ISIOLO COUNTY observed that many conflicts in Africa had remained a significant challenge to governments of the day and the people as well but, at the same time, commended PROCMURA for addressing the roots causes of conflicts and for taking the gospel of peace and peaceful coexistence to the grassroots and for providing a platform for sharing ideas and experiences in peace-building.

_{Isiolo County Commissioner Geoffrey Omoding making his closing remarks.} 

Additionally, the commissioner, who is the senior-most representative of the national government administration in the county, reiterated that countries could not achieve development in places with no peace. He also reminded the religious leaders that they were picked because of their roles in society and, therefore, should take the training with the weight it comes with and use it to impact their respective communities positively.

In their response to the challenge by the County Commissioner, the participants are committed to being peace ambassadors in their localities and work hand in hand with other stakeholders in conflict prevention and management and peace-building to ensure peace prevails. At the end of the workshop, all participants in the successful religious leaders' capacity-building workshop were issued certificates of participation.

_{Participants posing for a group photo with their certificates of participation.}