Kenyan peace activist In the race to win Global Pluralism Award, 2017

A Kenyan is in the race to being declared the winner of the Global Pluralism Award, 2017.

Global Centre for Pluralism is an international education and research organisation founded by His Highness the Aga Khan and the Government of Canada, to recognised and celebrates people for their extraordinary, innovative work to advance respect for diversity.

“We are witnessing societies worldwide becoming more deeply divided. The need for respect and acceptance across differences is all the more urgent,” said John McNee, secretary-general of the Global Centre for Pluralism.

The 10 finalists for the 2017 Global Pluralism Award were announced to the public and among them is Kenya’s Alice Wairimu Nderitu, chosen for her work in mediation and conflict prevention throughout Africa.

Her work as a peacemaker, conflict mediator and gender equality advocate in Kenya and Nigeria saw her selected for the prestigious award.

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As commissioner of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission, she steered a 16-month peace process in Kenya’s Rift Valley. Ms. Nderitu was the only female mediator at the peace table with 100 elders from 10 ethnic communities.

Most recently, she became the only woman to have brokered two sets of peace agreements in Nigeria: One between 29 ethnic communities in Kaduna and another between 56 ethnic communities in Southern Plateau.

Of the 10 finalists, three winners will be recognised at the inaugural Global Pluralism Award ceremony in Ottawa, Canada.

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Each winner will receive $50,000 to further their work.

The International Award jury, chaired by the Rt. Hon. Joe Clark, former Prime Minister of Canada, is comprised of five independent members from various disciplines. The jury reviewed over 200 nominations from 43 countries. After careful consideration, the finalists were selected for their extraordinary, innovative work to advance respect for diversity.