Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy

The violence has left scores dead, hundreds of thousands displaced and massive property destroyed for the best part of this year.


A call to pause

The Center for Multiparty Democracy (CMD-Kenya) in conjunction with the National Music Copyright society (NAMCOS) plans to hold a National Peace Concert on Saturday, 25 August 2007 aimed at inviting Kenyans to seriously reflect on peace as a matter of urgent national concern.

An election year brings with it unique challenges including electoral related violence. Clearly, a volatile environment is bad for democracy, hence the need to call the country to pause and reflect on ways of restoring and safeguarding national peace.


Songs for peace

As part of the preparation for this Concert, CMD-Kenya has already commissioned the compilation of eight special songs to guide the country’s pursuit for peace throughout the year. CMD-Kenya hopes to run similar peace concerts in all provincial headquarters across the country ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

The first concert on Saturday 25 August will be held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre and will bring together renowned musicians drawn from all the eight provinces of the country to sing for peace and stability of the nation.

These concerts will be an important instrument to pacify the country and create a conducive electoral environment free of the sort of violence that often characterizes electioneering.