Twenty-five women from Kenya’s Coast Region have completed a 40-hour Professional Mediation Training and formed the Coast Mediators Network, a new women-led professional network that will strengthen access to mediation and dispute resolution services for individuals, families, communities and institutions across the region.

The training was delivered under the IMARISHA Project, implemented by the Kenya Community Support Centre (KECOSCE) with support from Act Change Transform (ACT!) through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark in Nairobi. The project strengthens women’s leadership, community resilience, access to justice and meaningful participation in peace and governance processes.

The newly trained mediators acquired practical skills in conflict analysis, communication, negotiation, mediation process design, ethics, impartiality, confidentiality and inclusive dispute resolution. They will apply these skills to support individuals and communities to resolve disputes through dialogue and mediation, while the network will build awareness of mediation and strengthen referral pathways with community structures, civil society organisations, justice actors and county institutions.

County Government Affirms Support for Women Peacebuilders

The completion of the training was marked by a graduation ceremony attended by the County Executive Committee Member for Department of Youth, Gender, Sports and Social Services – Mombasa County, who affirmed the County Government’s support for KECOSCE’s efforts to strengthen the capacity of grassroots women to contribute to conflict prevention, resolution and community cohesion.

In his remarks, the County Executive Committee Member recognised the important role of grassroots women in identifying and responding to local conflicts and highlighted the value of equipping women with practical skills to support peaceful resolution of disputes within their communities.

The County Government’s affirmation provides an important opportunity to strengthen linkages

between trained women mediators, community peacebuilding structures and county-level mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution.

The graduation therefore marked not only the completion of a professional training programme, but also a step towards strengthening a locally rooted pool of women peacebuilders who can contribute to addressing emerging conflicts before they escalate and help build more cohesive and resilient communities across the Coast.

“We are celebrating much more than the completion of a training. We are celebrating the emergence of a network of women professionals ready to help individuals and communities resolve disputes peacefully,” said KECOSCE Executive Director Phyllis Muema, HSC.

Building a Sustainable Coast Mediation Hub

KECOSCE will partner with Disability Justice & Mediation Africa (D/JMA) to provide the Coast Mediators Network with continuous mentorship, professional development and technical support, while creating linkages with justice institutions and professional mediation bodies.

The partnership will also contribute to KECOSCE’s longer-term vision of establishing a Coast Mediation Hub — a regional platform for professional mediation training, mentorship, referrals, networking and access to mediation and alternative dispute resolution
resources.

“Through our partnership with D/JMA, we want to ensure this is not a one-off training. We will continue investing in mentorship, professional development and institutional linkages so that the Coast Mediators Network becomes a strong and sustainable resource for communities across the region. Our long-term vision is to establish KECOSCE as a Coast Mediation Hub that strengthens access to quality alternative dispute resolution services,” Muema said.

KECOSCE and D/JMA will continue supporting the mediators to strengthen their professional practice, expand referral networks and establish partnerships that can connect communities with appropriate mediation services.

Among the mediators’ aspirations is to pursue opportunities to become court-annexed mediators, subject to meeting the requirements of the Judiciary. This would provide an opportunity to extend their contribution into the formal justice system and support efforts to make Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) more accessible, timely and responsive.

A New Resource for Coastal Communities

The Coast Mediators Network will provide members with opportunities for continuous professional development, peer learning, mentorship and referrals, while building partnerships with county governments, justice institutions, civil society organisations and development partners.

By providing a confidential and structured space for parties to communicate and reach mutually acceptable solutions, mediation can help preserve relationships, resolve disputes before they escalate, reduce reliance on adversarial processes and contribute to stronger social cohesion.

The establishment of the network represents an investment not only in the professional development of 25 women, but also in the Coast Region’s capacity to develop locally led mechanisms for peaceful conflict resolution.

KECOSCE welcomes partnerships with county governments, justice institutions, civil society organisations, development partners and other stakeholders to support the professional growth of the mediators, strengthen referral pathways and contribute to establishing a sustainable Coast Mediation Hub.

About KECOSCE

Kenya Community Support Centre (KECOSCE) is a Kenyan public benefit organisation working to strengthen peaceful, inclusive and resilient communities through peacebuilding and social cohesion, governance and social accountability, Women, Peace and Security, early warning and early response, preventing and countering violent extremism, access to justice and community resilience initiatives.

The Executive Director
Kenya Community Support Centre (KECOSCE)
Mombasa, Kenya
www.kecosce.org
[email protected]

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