Kenya Chapter event

Human Rights Education and interfaith encounter
26 January 2014
Kajiado, South Rift Province, Kenya

Interfaith & HRE in Kajiado, Kenya (Report – PDF, 4 pages illustrated)

Kenya Chapter press conference

IARF’s new Chapter in Kenya held its first press briefing with reference to the Westgate
shopping mall attack in Nairobi on 21 September 2013, by Somalia-based Al-Shabaab.

The Chapter’s particular concern is a possible Islamophobic backlash against members of
Kenya’s Somali community. It hopes to establish a media presence that advocates the
principles for which IARF and other interfaith workers stand, against any possible religion-
based targeting of individual or communities.

The guest of honour was the former Mayor of Nairobi, Professor Nathan Kahara, who is a
pioneer of interfaith in the East Africa region.

Please see the report here (PDF 4 pages, illustrated): Kenya Chapter press conference Nairobi 30nov13

First Kenya Chapter upcountry events

• South Nyanza Region interfaith program – Report (PDF 3 pages, illustrated)
• Human Rights Education event, Kitale

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Chapter Secretary’s Introductory Address

To our distinguished guest, leaders and the IARF members, Shalom!

I would first want to acknowledge the presence on the stage of Hon. Governor, County Representative, area OCPD, Chief and other distinguished  guests.

I also recognize the presence of IARF Kenya Chapter national official. I salute you all for accepting our request to attend this meeting. Welcome!

Let me also take this chance to thank the president of IARF the Most Rev. Mitsuo Miyake, the Guji Takahiro Miwa, Bishop Jefferson Ghauri, and the Administrator at the secretariat office for their support towards the formation of the IARF Kenya Chapter and to the entire membership of the IARF Council.

I would also like to recognize the membership of the IARF council who participated in the voting in the formation this chapter.

Let me bring to your attention that this is the second event IARF Kenya Chapter is holding this year since its formation in July this year 2013. There are many events to happen in different parts of our country Kenya and in the whole of the African continent by next year 2014 and years to come. I thank all of you for taking your time to be an IARF community in Kenya.

I therefore thank all members who have demonstrated their interest in joining the IARF community in Kenya.

As IARF community, we are committed to the fulfilment of the mission of the IARF in Africa as a whole.

It is indeed the case that the wider world now receives our news through networks. They have clearly shown that our IARF Kenya Chapter has started  its activities to fulfil the IARF agendas and promises for a greater future.

1. Press statements regarding the Westgate terrorist attack.
2.  Interfaith education seminar in South Nyanza Region.
3.  Human Rights Education in Kitale, North Rift Region.

And therefore, it has became clear elsewhere in the world, that IARF Kenya chapter as a multi-religious organization has taken initiatives in education on human rights through inter-religious co-operation.

These are going to be advantage of wider regional as a development of our country Kenya and global community.

We as IARF Kenya chapter are so keen in playing part in promoting the liberal position. By turning out to events such as the Human Right Education, interfaith seminars, acting on issues that arise like the Westgate Mall attack, we have clearly shown our conviction that one of the critical issues at this historical moment is our association’s agenda or cause – the promotion of free and cordial engagement, exchange of views, and mutual tolerance and understanding between diverse co-existing religious communities.

 I therefore welcome you all with regard for your involvement, and look forward to our being able to spread many further activities of this kind in partnership with you all, leaders religious  and the entire communities around this region.

 Thank you and welcome. May God bless you all.

Rev. Lawrence Adera, 
IARF Kenya Chapter Secretary

Statement on the Westgate Mall attack, Nairobi

Kenya Chapter statement on the Westgate Mall attack, Nairobi

23 September 2013

The International Association for Religious Freedom (IARF) Kenya Chapter condemns in the strongest terms possible, the terrorist attack at the Westgate shopping mall in Westlands, Nairobi that has left many of our loved ones dead and injured.

It is an attack on innocent people that recalls the Nairobi US embassy bombings of 1998 – a similar great loss to our country.

As an IARF community whose main agenda is to preach peace among the religions of the world, we strongly condemn the attackers who have carried out an act of cowardice targeting innocent lives.

We strongly believe that this is not a ‘religious war’, but one being waged by people who do not value human life, and who pretend to profess religious faith.

We therefore ask religious leaders to come together and preach peace, and also to advise our community members to do the same. Let us share their sorrow with our loved ones who are affected in this attack.

We support the Kenyan people and its leaders, and commiserate with them during this time of loss, anguish and pain.

We also call upon all Kenyans to exercise restraint and patience as we pray for peace in the world.

We are also praying for our security agencies who are currently trying their best to free hostages still being held by the terrorists.

We call upon all our religious leaders to remain in prayers for peace in this our beloved country Kenya, and also in other parts of the world.

Rev. Lawrence Adera
Secretary, IARF Kenya Chapter

SACC role in Kochi first

11 March 2013

The campaigning body of one of the world’s leading peace organizations, Mayors for Peace, known as the “2020 Vision Campaign“, has chosen the city of Kochi as its first Associate Member in South Asia.

SACC chairman Thomas Mathew was instrumental in this choice being made, in reciprocation of the generous help given toward the successful organisation of IARF’s 33rd World Congress held in Kochi in 2010, by Kochi Corporation and the then Mayor.

Please see the report here.

The International Association of Liberal Religious Women

Our member group the  IALRW is one of the oldest international women’s organizations in the world.
It was convened in Berlin in 1910 and since that time has provided a link between liberal religious women throughout the world. It serves to promote friendship and cooperation between like-minded women and is a channel of communication for those striving for a liberal religious life. Members accept that each may belong to a different faith group, yet all share common values of striving for peace, justice and harmony, in the heart of the family, the community and the world.

Social Action 
The Association promotes equality for women and economic and social justice. It sponsors an on-going social action project for women in India, offering training in literacy and vocational skills to enable disadvantaged women to become self-sufficient. It also supports other women’s projects on a one-time basis. It promotes the inclusion of women’s roles in religion on the agenda of special events in the UN calendar and other national and international gatherings.

Conferences
There are international conferences every three or four years and national and regional conferences in intervening years. Recent international conferences have been held in Taiwan, Hungary, Canada, South Korea, and India.

Interfaith Cooperation
As a member group of the International Association for Religious Freedom, the Association participates fully in its activities and promotes consideration of women’s issues in its agenda. Membership Membership is open to women from liberal faith communities throughout the world who seek to share their ideas, their experiences and concerns, offering support to each other in the search for spiritual enrichment and identity. The IALRW represents such diverse religious traditions as Buddhists, Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Unitarians and Universalists, and the liberal wings of other faith groups. Individual annual membership fees are the equivalent of US $15.

Other Related Women’s Groups: The Unitarian Universalist Women’s Federation