website: kaburo kobia
Dec 2016
Opening remarks Rev Dr Sam Kobia, Senior Advisor on Peace, Conflict Resolution and Social Cohesion for President of Kenya
OikoDiplomatique, in collaboration with Minda Trust and Kwetu Training Centre held a workshop in Kilifi County, Kenya, to explores the significant impact faith communities can have in revitalising essential mangrove ecosystems. Mangrove forests are an important source of livelihood for many coastal communities in Kenya. They also provide protection against storm surges and coastal erosion and are a hotspots of biodiversity.
OikoDiplomatique, hosted by EOC-DICAC, visited Ethiopia’s Church Forests to explore how faith-based conservation is preserving biodiversity and sustaining local communities. With 35,000 Church Forests, could this be a model for Kenya and beyond?
Jan 2017
"I am a child of war. All I knew was war. We are haunted by our bitter memories of war..."
Jan 2017
Gunilla Hamne explained the profound effect trauma can have in a person’s life. ‘Unseen wounds are the most difficult to heal.’
OikoDiplomatique travelled to Isiolo County to facilitate a training on Farmer-Managed Natural Regeneration. The event brought together the Holy Trinity Sisters with experts from World Vision--it was more than a workshop, it was a meaningful meeting of minds where faith and science came together to imagine new possibilities for restoring both land and community.
June 2022
In June 2022 OikoDiplomatique teamed up with World Vision's Empowered World View (EWV) program to train faith and community leaders as well as environmental specialists working around land restoration.
Jan 2017
Adults affected by conflict and violence will not be able to... function well in society. Without psycho-social help and healing...
September 2019
Although spirituality is difficult to define, it is needed to protect our struggle for social justice from disillusionment and to liberate a creation suffering under the burden of climate change and global warming.
June 2022
What is the role of faith in land restoration? Can religious leaders foster regreening? Can faith communities catalyse the spread of farmer-managed natural regeneration?
Keynote speaker Rev Dr Sam Kobia shared his advice and encouragement to the participants in plenary “... we have a burden of history because we know the reasons for climate change and we know that if we don’t do certain things, the earth and environment will degrade. ”.
April 2023
Faith groups have an important role to play in restoring landscapes, however there is currently a gap in both in the land restoration agenda and in the vision of faith organisations.
Kakamega Forest, Kenya’s last remaining tropical rainforest, is a vital ecosystem under threat. OikoDiplomatique recently explored this biodiversity hotspot to assess restoration opportunities. Our visit highlighted the power of faith-driven conservation, community engagement, and sustainable restoration led by groups like Tembelea Kanisa Intiative.
Jan 2017
"... healing and reconciling wounded memories is a vital dimension that is often missing from peacebuilding initiatives and progammes."
June 2018
Rev Dr Samuel Kobia pioneers links between faith and environment and sets the scene for Faith in Regreening Africa
OikoDiplomatique proudly partnered with the County Government of Kilifi to organize and host the annual World Wetlands Day celebration on 3rd February 2025 in Mtwapa, Kilifi County. The special day has been observed globally since 1971 to bring awareness about the benefits of wetlands and encourage solutions to the challenges facing the wet soil areas that are distinct ecosystems.