Amani CBO began life in 2001, founded by 15 local school leavers from different clan and ethnic backgrounds. Registered in Mount Elgon District in 2003, by the end of 2004 it had recruited 42 members and working with 20 community self help groups. As parts of its growth, the organization developed its leadership and management structure to allow effective implementation of its activities.

Amani CBO was founded to develop youth reintegration and reconciliation activities in the wake of the violence surrounding the 1992 elections. It also works to address youth poverty and illiteracy, as well as on HIV/Aids issues, as part of its overall vision of a just and poverty-free Kenya.

Programme areas

Amani CBO works on the following thematic areas:

• HIV/Aids prevention
• Environmental conservation through promoting organic agriculture and marketing of organic farm produce to small scale rural farmers
• Youth and female empowerment - providing training, credit and financial opportunities
• Peacebuilding through community peace dialogue, reconciliation forums and social cultural and sporting events.

Currently

Amani Community Based organization is a member of Kenya organic Agriculture Network (KOAN), Elimu Yetu Coalition (EYC), and Global Network for Disaster Reduction (GNDR). Among the partnership we have is Anglican Development Services (ADS) working on peace building a head of 2022 general election. We focus on early warning and community peace dialogue targeting youth, women, the church leaders and Elder and have a capacity to be able to report and respond to possible conflict issues that can escalate to violence a head of 2022 Kenya general election.

As part of environmental conservation, we have partnered with Sun24 solar US based NGO in promoting bed rocks use in 3 stones cook stove to encourage fuel wood energy saving through working with mother union in Anglican Churches of Kenya (A.C.K) diocese in Kenya. To reduce risk of kerosene use, we are providing A2 (D.lights) Solar lights at affordable price for the rural communities in Kenya that do not have access to electricity. Kenya Forest Research Institute (KEFRI) working with International Bamboo Rantaan (INBAR) are also our partners in promoting Bamboo among the small holder farmers in Mount Elgon to enhance forest cover, protect water point and increase sustainable wood fuel rather than depending on forest trees. This is year we were a warded a small funding through National Agricultural Rural and Inclusive Growth project (NARIGP) funded by World Bank through the Government of Kenya in Implementing Sustainable Land Management (SLM) Project.

Specific activities which Amani C.B.O has participated in during recent years include:

Partnering with Change Agent for Peace International (CAPI) using the Turning The Tide (TTT) peacebuilding approach in a non-violent way to address community challenges which would bring tension and conflict among the locals. Through this project APT have been able to address the issue of opening up a maternity ward building. The building was constructed and closed by the constructor who claimed to have not been paid. The community had threatened to burn the building down. Amani CBO intervened in the case and were able to peacefully open the building.

Amani CBO has also participated in local partnership with Usalama Reforms Forum in helping to reform the police sector. They worked with a local police station through consultative forums on community safety, accountability, alternative to justice systems, and crime observatory committees.

2012-2013 - a large donor-funded project, the Kenyan Civil Society Strengthening Program, which aimed to enhance youth participation in peace building initiatives, youth dialogue and reconciliation among communities. This involved community mobilization and project awareness in 12 sub-locations, the identification of community elders and youth leads as change agents, reconciliation crusades, quarterly peace sports, games and cultural events and ‘Amani shuleni’’ peace activities.

Amani CBO has taken and adapted this strategy because of its success. The way the activities were developed and planned made it a true community peace process, which reached a large number of people. Neither young nor old were left out, with elders traditionally having a mandatory role in conflict resolution. Amani CBO facilitated the actual activities: organising food and drinks, hiring hiring public address systems and halls if needed, providing support to youth leaders and elders in bringing about change and influencing perceptions of other communities, organising peace awards and setting up the quarterly sports and cultural events

2009 to 2011 - the "Strengthening Non-State Actors in Peacebuilding and Conflict Management Project" in Western Kenya and the Rift Valley, implemented by several large donors.

2008-2009 - peace dialogues, reconciliation and public accountability discussions following the 2007 election violence, in the Western Province.

2008-2009 - dialogue and reconciliation among the Soy and Ndorobo community after intra-clan conflicts over disputed land settlements escalated in the Mount Elgon area.

A football tournament at an ACBO event.

A personal story: bringing together the Soi and Ndorobo/Masopo

Amani CBO has worked hard to help ensure that my communities live in harmony. I now live without fear of the Soi clan, who we fought in the past. We are trading our products and we have even come together as clans to support our social welfare needs. Amani CBO helped us to form the 'Partners of Joy' self help group, with 20 members from the Soi and Ndorobo-Masop clans. We visit each others' homes for prayers, taking goods and contributions. Other communities have followed our lead in working together - Fred Roich Mendela, Ndorobo farmer from Chepyuk 

Activists at a peace caravan.