By Aaron Muthomi
Nairobi, Kenya – 6 August 2025
As the world prepares to mark the International Day of Peace on 21st September 2025, Kenya is taking the lead with a powerful build-up event: the Africa Peace and Environment Summit (APES 2), scheduled to take place from 2nd to 4th September at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa in Nairobi.
Organized by Amani Communities Africa (ACA) in collaboration with the Centre for Environmental Stewardship (CES) and the Mother Earth Network, the summit will bring together environmentalists, peacebuilders, youth movements, faith leaders, and development organizations from across the continent.
This year’s summit theme,
“ People | Planet | Peace – Intertwining Human and Planetary Wellness,”
echoes the global call to action under the United Nations’ 2025 Peace Day theme:
“Act Now for a Peaceful World.”
Climate and Conflict: A Dual Crisis
The summit aims to deepen the conversation on how environmental degradation and climate change are increasingly linked to conflict and insecurity. Organizers are calling for unified, grassroots-driven action to transform environmental advocacy into sustainable peacebuilding strategies, particularly in Africa’s most vulnerable communities.
Participants will engage in plenary sessions, panel discussions, community clean-up activities, tree planting, and peace walks, all designed to build momentum toward the International Day of Peace.
“This isn’t just a summit — it’s a movement to reconnect human well-being with the health of the planet,” one facilitator remarked during a recent planning session.
Confirmed partners for the event include World Vision, Ronalds LLP, SambaSports Youth Trust, SFA Foundation, Globethics, and the Harmony Institute.
Webinar Sets the Tone
As part of the build-up, a Pre-Summit Webinar was held on 28th June 2024, featuring key thought leaders and practitioners in the field:
Prof. Mbaabu Mathiu – Executive Director, Centre for Environmental Stewardship
Joy Muthoni – Executive Director, Amani Communities Africa
Aaron Muthomi – CEO and Founder, Teens Voice Africa
Phyllis Wangwe – Training Coordinator, Women in ADR
Topics explored included:
The global environmental challenges facing humanity
How ecological harm contributes to conflict
The role of peacebuilding in climate resilience and sustainability
Act Now for a Peaceful World
The United Nations’ 2025 Peace Day theme, “Act Now for a Peaceful World,” calls on individuals across the globe to take meaningful, everyday steps toward building peace.
From peacekeepers and policymakers to students, volunteers, and community leaders, the message is clear: everyone has a role to play.
Some of the practical actions being encouraged include:
Speaking out against violence, hate, and discrimination
Choosing to support sustainable and socially conscious brands
Volunteering locally and regionally
Combating misinformation and promoting digital peace
Empowering youth and amplifying diverse voices
The UN’s ActNow Campaign enables individuals to track and amplify their actions through an app, helping millions worldwide transform intention into impact.
Kenya’s Role in Regional Peacebuilding
With APES 2, Kenya not only hosts a continental conversation but also reaffirms its leadership in grassroots peacebuilding and environmental justice.
As preparations for International Peace Day 2025 intensify globally, APES 2 is a powerful reminder that climate action is peace action — and that even the smallest steps, when taken together, can move the world toward lasting peace and sustainability.
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