By Peace Muthoka.
As political temperatures rise and economic uncertainty continues to grip the nation, Women in Alternative Dispute Resolution (WADR) have issued a passionate appeal to all Kenyans to choose dialogue, not division.
In a strongly worded statement released on July 16, the organization urged the public to abandon hostility and embrace peaceful, constructive ways of handling disputes, warning that Kenya’s future depends on it.
According to WADR, the country stands at a dangerous crossroads. Disputes whether political, social, or economic are intensifying, and without a shift in mindset, the nation risks losing the hard-won progress made in democracy, innovation, governance, and entrepreneurship.
The group emphasized that lasting peace and unity can only be achieved when dialogue replaces violence, and empathy replaces provocation.
“Whenever society chooses hostility and violence over constructive dialogue, we all lose. But when we choose to reason together and seek solutions, we all win,” Women in ADR said.
WADR called on Kenyans from all sectors government, business, civil society, and communities to adopt alternative dispute resolution methods such as mediation, reconciliation, and conciliation. These peaceful approaches, the group noted, are not only faster and more cost-effective than litigation, but they also preserve relationships, restore trust, and ease the burden on an already overstretched judicial system.
WADR stressed that Kenya simply cannot afford to let conflicts escalate unchecked. Dialogue, they said, must be the first response not the last resort. They highlighted the private sector in particular as one that thrives in predictable, peaceful environments, urging the creation of platforms for early resolution of disputes through pre-litigation dialogue and strengthened community mediation programs.
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“This is not merely a legal or policy appeal,” WADR said. “It is a moral responsibility and a national duty. Kenya must stand out as a leader not only in economic and professional excellence, but also in how it manages disagreement and dissent.”
The organization further warned against inflammatory rhetoric, incitement, and acts of provocation that continue to threaten Kenya’s global standing as a peaceful hub for investment and diplomacy. Instead, they encouraged Kenyans to support peacebuilding efforts, seek professional mediators, and hold leaders accountable through dialoguenot disruption.
