•  JUSTICE AND PEACE PROGRAMME

Society recognizes the Church as an advocate for the downtrodden. ACK is a “big brother” (or “sister”) in the Christian Family in Kenya . Challenging injustice and affront to the rule of law is an expressed component of the Mission Statement of the ACK Social Ministry.

It is noted that almost every aspect of development work has an advocacy component. Advocacy is also required at all levels – district, regional, national and even international. DOSS desires to see a more systematic, coordinated and multi-dimensional approach to the advocacy work of ACK. DOSS will keep well informed on any advocacy issues emerging in particular regions and will provide accompaniment to the RCCS and may need to mobilize national attention on any case that so demands such. National advocacy issues are primarily an ongoing concern of DOSS.

There will also be facilitation of enhanced networking with other actors towards greater effectiveness.

Confronting injustices does not always require street campaigns; much covert work is often important. ACK, of course, has been well known to confront whenever other means have been exhausted.

DOSS is also aware that presentation of alternatives is an important component of effective advocacy; hence it will harness the input of relevant lay experts for developing well-informed alternatives.

At the national level, there has been a Justice and Peace Commission (JPC), which before was a separate organ but has now been made a part of DOSS as an outcome of the restructuring exercise. There also has been a Democracy and Governance Programme, including Civic Education and Human Rights Awareness. The whole of the Justice and Peace work of ACK is being reconceptualized.