The Kenya Veterans for Peace was founded during the height of Post Election violence by Rev. John M. Mathenge who had served in the Kenya Armed Forces for over 20 years. The retired Security Agents from the Armed Forces, Kenya Police, Administration Police and Prison services are the most misused Community in Africa due to minimal pensions and unnecessary dismissals from the forces. They become prone to crime, while politicians take advantage of their plight and misuse them for political aims.

In Africa, the veterans live under poor conditions and especially Kenya where after independence, those who participated in the 2nd World War were recognized by the Colonial Government and were rewarded.

After Kenya’s Independence, those who retired were neither recognized nor awarded which has led to an increase in crime while the Government has kept silent on the issue of those discharged or dismissed from active service. The skills and expertise acquired during service go to waste and remain un-utilized. Many veterans retire at an early age below 60 years while others are dismissed at a youthful age for discipline cases.

There is no laid-down procedure neither is there a rehabilitation program for the retirees to assist them cope with civilian life after retirement. Many end up in crime activities while others join unlawful militia groups as witnessed in the Mt. Elgon Region. Some employment Agencies from the Arab Countries have taken advantage of this situation and are recruiting the Veterans to work under hard conditions in the US Marine Camps in Iraq and Afghanistan as Security Guards. These men and women work for only $20 US dollars per day. They opt to take the jobs rather than live under abject poverty in Kenya. The initiative by the Kenya Veterans for Peace is to revert the trend and find ways and means to support their living and turn them into useful Kenyans by using their skills and expertise for the benefit of this Nation. There is a retired Security Agent in every village of Kenya and they comprise all the forty-two tribes. The number of retirees continues to rise and there are over 100,000 of them since 1963. About 35% can enjoy the fruits while 65% are desperate, jobless, poor and without hope. Most of them are from the junior ranks, while others are dismissed from service unlawfully.

About 58% of the Veterans acquired skills while in service ranging from Peace keeping and Disaster Management etc. Many calamities have occurred in our Nation while those un-utilized skills stay idle in their villages. Some of the calamities can be classified as:

These expertise can be used in our Nation e.g. Reservists, Metropolitan Police, Tourists Guards, Maritime Security Guards and environmental management e.g. forest guards, dams and water sources management, etc.

“The main purpose of the organization is to promote peace among the communities and to respond to disasters, conflict resolutions, volunteer in Nation building and community policing.”

To mobilize and recruit from the retirees of the Armed Forces, Kenya Police, Administration Police and Prisons Services for rehabilitation and train them to volunteer their expertise when called upon to assist.

To establish or assist in the establishment of schools and other educational centers and libraries, and to publish newsletters, brochures, periodicals, books and other publications as the board of the organization may deem desirable for the promotion of lasting peace initiatives.

To use our professional skills and expertise in volunteering to alleviate disasters and calamities, environmental, community policing, reduction of small arms, or any other duty that may be beneficial to the Nation or where called upon.

To train adult Kenyans in Peace building and assist them acquire managerial skills through GOK, NGOs and any other sponsoring agents for peace building.

“The Kenya Veterans for Peace is non-political and non-partisan and shall work and network with all peace building initiatives regardless of tribe, race, religious beliefs, or Nationality, e.g. GOK, NGOs, Red Cross and inter-religious bodies, and shall assist victims of any affected areas with business, evaluation distribution of aid resources and help in construction of homes, water resources, medical centres, schools and community centres.”

Kenya Veterans for Peace is networking with organizations with similar objectives and is in partnership with Kenya Assemblies of God (KAG), Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK), Peacenet Trust and Provincial Peace Committees (PCs).

Kenya Veterans for Peace successfully mediated between Landlords and illegal tenants and founded peace at the Mathare Area at the height of the post-election violence.

We were also involved in the profiling of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

Kenya Veterans for Peace has opened offices in the Rift Valley, Central Province, Mt. Elgon Region and Nyanza, and started recreation activities for the youth, skills building and tapping talents in various fields.