WASHINGTON, D.C. (January 30, 2026) – The McCain Institute at Arizona State University (ASU) led a delegation of its Africa and Middle East McCain Global Leaders (MGLs) to Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya to explore how community leaders and policymakers maintain Kenya’s relatively young democracy through conflict resolution.
The five participating MGLs, who are part of the 22 total members of the 2025 cohort, included Founding Member of the World Liberty Congress Anaïse Kanimba from Rwanda, Humanitarian Advocacy Specialist Noor Mousa from Iraq, The Makor Consulting Chief Growth and Training Specialist Gbenga Oni from Nigeria, and Human Rights Activist and Youth Advocate Julien Vikemba from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The delegation was also joined by Global Advisory Council Members Elisa Massimino and Lida Noory.
MGLs visited the United Nations at Nairobi (UNON), the only UN headquarters office in Africa and the global south, to discuss multilateral approaches to peace, development, and regional cooperation. The delegation also engaged with the East Africa Standby Force—a military, police and civilian force designed for peacekeeping and stability operations and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), to learn how institutions build coalitions, manage conflict and promote peace in a diverse political landscape. In addition, leaders met with members of the Maasai Mbili artist collective to explore how art and cultural expression contribute to civic engagement, social commentary, and peacebuilding at the community level and visited KOBE Tough Beads, a Kenyan social enterprise that creates sustainable livelihoods for Maasai women, to learn how women’s economic empowerment and community-led entrepreneurship contribute to resilience, dignity, and long-term social stability.
Meetings with policymakers in Nairobi included the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the Conflict Early Warning Unit (CEWARN), and leaders discussed how to translate policy into impact with the Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association (KYPA) and the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA).
“Kenya offers powerful lessons in how institutions, civil society, and communities work together to prevent conflict and strengthen democratic resilience,” said Scott Nemeth, Assistant Director of Global Leadership at the McCain Institute. “By engaging directly with policymakers, grassroots organizations, and community-based leaders in Nairobi and Mombasa, the McCain Global Leaders gained practical insights into how inclusive leadership and locally driven solutions can build lasting peace.”
In Mombasa, the delegation engaged with the Office of the Governor of Mombasa through a meeting with a senior advisor and a visit to Swahilipot Hub, highlighting the role of youth-driven innovation in civic participation and local development. Meetings with journalist and activist, Kevin Mwachiro, the Coast Interfaith Council of Clerics, Kenya Community Support Center, Search for Common Ground, and International Justice Mission demonstrated how these organizations protect vulnerable communities, create social cohesion and address tolerance through community-driven approaches.
“This visit to Kenya reinforced for me that effective peacebuilding begins at the community level and does not end at the ballot box,” said Gbenga Oni, 2025 McCain Global Leader “Across the week, we saw how locally grounded approaches to conflict resolution can strengthen social justice and build lasting peace. The experience affirmed my belief that sustainable solutions must be rooted in local leadership and innovation if they are to truly serve communities and the next generation of African peacebuilders.”
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Learn more about the McCain Institute’s McCain Global Leaders Program here.