On Thursday November 5th 2026, the faithful from the Catholic Dioceses of Lodwar, Kitale and Eldoret gathered at Chesegon, located on the border of West Pokot and Elgeyo Marakwet counties to celebrate the third Peace Mass under the North Rift Peace Initiative.
The Mass was led by Bishop John Mbinda of the Catholic Diocese of Lodwar, joined by Bishop Henry Juma Odonya and Bishop Joseph Obanyi of Kakamega (who also serves as the Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Eldoret).
In his homily, the Bishop urged the faithful and the local community to be peacemakers and ambassadors of peace. He emphasized the importance of embracing cultural and social differences not as sources of division, but with the recognition that all people are children of God.
The Bishop explained that hatred, selfishness, incitement and ill intent are among the factors that undermine peace. He called upon political leaders and citizens alike to refrain from statements or actions that could fuel hostility, encouraging them instead to foster unity, solidarity and reconciliation.
Furthermore, the Bishop stressed that peace is the foundation of development, noting that a society cannot progress amidst conflict and insecurity. For his part, Bishop John Mbinda urged the faithful to be ambassadors of peace wherever they go, rejecting acts of violence, incitement and revenge.
During the event, Father Dr. Daniel Ng’ang’a also launched his new book, titled “Echoes of Peace,” which was officially unveiled by Bishop Henry Juma Odonya.
The book examines the origins of conflicts and wars in the North Rift region, their impact on the community and various strategies for ending hostilities and building lasting peace. It is available for purchase at a price of two thousand shillings (Ksh. 2,000) per copy.
These annual commemorations are part of a joint effort by the Catholic Church and communities in the North Rift region to strengthen peace, reconciliation and harmonious coexistence particularly in areas affected by security-related conflicts. This year’s commemorations were led by the Catholic Justice and Peace Department (CJPD) of the Catholic Diocese of Kitale, in collaboration with the dioceses of Lodwar and Eldoret.