The youth, today, need to be aware and constantly reminded of the consequences of ideologies that are negative and in so doing, help them to develop a proper moral perspective for a better tomorrow, Richard Masozera, Rwandan High Commissioner to Kenya said. Masozera said this on the occasion to mark the 28th commemoration of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi by Rwandan community in Kenya on April 14. Held in a hybrid format, the event brought together the Rwandan community living in Kenya, including students, the business community, a representative from the Government of Kenya, members of the diplomatic corps and friends of Rwanda. Masozera reiterated the need to fight against Genocide denial, impunity, and revisionism while noting that this period is an opportunity to reflect on the events of 1994 and learn from them so as to prevent it from happening again. He called on everyone to fight all forms of Genocide denial noting the rise of social media that has regrettably also been used as a strong weapon by the deniers of the Genocide in trying to achieve their deceitful objectives. These include; distortion of facts, deflecting attention and even rebranding themselves as heroes in their bid to downplay the role of the perpetrators of the Genocide against the Tutsi, he highlighted. “The Genocide should have never happened but it did and collectively we permitted it,” noted Stephen Jackson, UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya, while underscoring the international community’s failure which according to him “always leaves us with a sense of bitter regret and overbidding sorrow and shame.” Calling on a joint partnership to fight against Genocide ideologies in order to protect populations when the responsible governments or systems of protection fail, he said, “Preventing genocide is a collective responsibility and also an individual responsibility. Everyone has a role to play; Governments, the media, civil society organizations, religious groups.” Representing the government of Kenya, Ambassador Michael Oyugi, Director-General of the Kenya Foreign Service Academy, said that Rwanda, today, is a role model to the region and the world at large for being an overcomer and bouncing back stronger and united. “In the spirit of remembering, uniting, and renewing, we are encouraged by the growth witnessed by the people of Rwanda. The unity, peace, and Rwanda’s prosperity stand as a testament to the resilience and the will of the people of Rwanda to forge forward,” he added.
