By Caroline Katana
A coalition of faith leaders, community representatives, and development partners met at the FPFK Church in Diani, Kwale County to deliberate on ways of enhancing religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence along Kenya’s coastline.
The gathering was part of the Swahili Coast Freedom of Religion and Belief (FoRB) Project, a regional initiative to promote respect for diverse faiths and counter discrimination rooted in religion or belief.
According to Bishop David Nzioka, the Kenya Program Officer for the Swahili Regional Program, the campaign aims to address long-standing injustices targeting individuals because of their religious identity.
“Freedom of religion and belief gives everyone the right to worship without intimidation or bias,” said Bishop Nzioka. , to discuss
For a long time, people have endured persecution simply because of their faith. This project seeks to restore that dignity, especially for Muslims and Christians who have experienced religious discrimination.”
He reflected on the years following terrorist attacks in Kenya, saying innocent Muslims were unfairly profiled and stigmatized as violent extremists.
“Many non-Muslims began associating Islam with terrorism; that prejudice led to social divisions and denied peaceful believers their right to freely practice their religion,“ he explained.
Bishop David Nzioka
The project targets regions that have faced heightened religious tension, including Isiolo and Kwale counties in Kenya, and Tunduru District in Tanzania to strengthen unity among faith communities.
“Mutual respect is a cornerstone for development; no country can prosper when its people live in fear or mistrust of one another,” Bishop Nzioka emphasized.
He added that the Swahili Coast was chosen because of the shared language and cultural ties that make outreach more effective.
“Kiswahili connects people here. It makes it easier for us to engage and explain the value of respecting each other’s beliefs. Many of the challenges we see arise because communities have grown up believing that their religion is the only true one,” he said.
Bishop Nzioka further noted that the project’s central mission is to dismantle stereotypes that portray certain faiths as dangerous.
“The assumption that one religion is inherently violent has created unnecessary fear. This is what we are working to undo by promoting understanding and dialogue,” he said
He identified radicalization and violent extremism as major threats, often fueled by economic hardship and hopelessness among the youth.
“Extremists exploit unemployment to recruit vulnerable young people. That’s why part of our work includes vocational training and empowering communities economically, especially women and youth.” He added
The East Africa program’s coordinator, Emmanuel Pendo Kahaso, said the initiative spans six years, implemented in three phases of two years each, with support from CKU Denmark.
“The first phase runs from 1st July 2025 to 30th June 2027; our focus is to ensure that people in coastal regions can enjoy freedom of worship without fear or discrimination,”Kahaso explained.
Emmanuel Pendo Kahaso
He said the project mainly targets religious influencers, pastors, sheikhs, madrassa and Sunday school teachers, women of faith, Rastafarians, and Kaya elders to promote positive teachings that build peace rather than division.
“We are engaging all faith leaders to examine what their own scriptures say about harmony, peace, and respect,” He said.
The project also extends its training to teachers, enforcement agencies, and local administrators, recognizing that they play a crucial role in preventing extremist ideologies from spreading in schools and communities.
To strengthen livelihoods, the initiative supports entrepreneurship, skills development, and small-scale savings groups.
“We are helping young people start small businesses and use their talents even through football tournaments to spread awareness about freedom of belief,” Kahaso added.
He said the program also prioritizes parental involvement, noting that proper guidance in faith is vital to raising morally grounded children.
“Parents should take an active role in their children’s spiritual growth. A child who lacks religious guidance may easily fall into bad influences.” He said
Kahaso reminded participants that Kenya’s Constitution protects freedom of worship for all citizens.
“This project isn’t about mocking anyone’s faith. It’s about ensuring every person can express their belief freely, without hostility.” He explained
He concluded by urging communities to safeguard mutual respect and uphold the true purpose of religion.
“Faith should unite people, not divide them, every belief system was meant to guide humanity toward peace and a better relationship with God.” Kahaso said
The Swahili Coast Freedom of Religion and Belief Project continues to work in Kenya and Tanzania, promoting dialogue, understanding, and peaceful coexistence among communities of diverse faiths.
