Nakuru Muslim Association on Tuesday March 17, 2026 hosted youths for Iftar at the Nakuru RedCross Hall with calls for peace and cohesion taking centre stage.
The event was held under the Nakuru Muslim Association Youth Engagement Forum.
The first to be held in Nakuru, the event was also used as a platform to engage the youth on matters peace and cohesion ahead of the 2027 general polls.
Under the Theme: Empowered Youth, Strong Future, the event saw young people sensitized on the need to maintain peace before during and after 2027 elections.
Addressing press during the Iftar, Nakuru Muslim Association Chairperson Faez Ahmed Nasher reiterated the need for youth to be engaged in various aspects.
He attributed the event to the fact that throughout Ramadhan, many had been holding Iftar but the youth were not being considered.
While noting that the Country is headed to elections and campaign mood, the Chairperson called for the need for youth to be reached to and their challenges addressed.
“We realized that youth were not being reavhed to even during this Ramadhan and that’s why we held this Iftar. We want to engage our youth on various issues among them matters peace and cohesion,” he said.
Mr Faez also used the moment to call on young people to know various peaceful way of finding solutions to the issues affecting them.
According to him, similar forums will be held even after Ramadhan especially as the country heads to elections.
He urged young people to register as voters and ensure that their voices count, and called on political class to also maintain peace.
“We are telling the youth that they need to register as voters. That they need to remain focused and ensure that their voices count come 2027. They should not use stones or violence to be heard, but their votes,” he said.
Sentiments echoed by Nakuru Muslim Association Secretary Abdulkadir Adan Juma.
He noted that there has been a huge gap between political leaders and youth.
However, he was quick to point out that such forums will go a long way in addressing some of the challenges facing youth and ensure unity.
“There has been a huge gap between our leaders and GenZs and that is why we thought it wise to have them in this forum,” he said.
Nakuru Town West Deputy County Commissioner(DCC) Rashid Kwanya who also graced the forum, lauded Nakuru Muslim Association for organizing the same.
The DCC who represented Nakuru County Commissioner Dr. Loyford Kibaara, noted that the Iftar for youth served as a platform to engage the youth who hold key role in matters governance.
He challenged young muslims and Kenyan youths at large to be peace ambassadors and adhere to regious teachings.
“The fate of this country is with the young people. We are telling them that they should embrace peace and also live by the same,” he said.
The Administrator while noting that Nakuru has had scars of criminal gangs, he urged young people to keep off such criminal activities.
Sentiments echoed by SUPKEM Central Rift Secretary Abubakar Bilali.
On their part the Muslim youths led by Saidi Musa lauded Chairman Faez Nasher and the leadership for thinking about the welfare of youth.
“In the past we have not had such a forum. As youth, we are grateful to the Association for this opportunity and we shall continue to sensitize our fellow youth on importance of peace,” he said.