CUEA Hosts Africa Peace and Environment Summit on People, Planet and Peace
By Stephen Mbobu &CSJE
The Centre for Social Justice and Ethics (CSJE) at The Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA), together with its partners, hosted the Africa Peace and Environment Summit (APES 3’) from September 29 to October 1, 2026, at the Pope Paul VI Learning Resource Centre, CUEA Langata Campus.
Held under the overarching theme: “People, Planet, Peace,” the Summit brought together international delegates and stakeholders to examine the interconnectedness of peace, prosperity and environmental sustainability and their implications for Africa’s development.
Speaking on behalf of the University, CSJE Director, Rev. Dr. Peter Mbaro urged participants to consider the environmental and social consequences of development activities, particularly their impact on community health and peace.
He emphasised the interconnected nature of people, the environment and peace, calling for greater awareness of how development choices could affect communities and the environment.
Peace as a Foundation for Prosperity
Delivering the keynote address, historian and international relations scholar Prof. Macharia Munene underscored the relationship between people, planet, peace and prosperity.
Prof. Munene observed that the process of building nations and empires had historically been accompanied by destructive wars, which had caused significant environmental damage and undermined peace.
He said peace could be difficult to achieve where parties had divergent interests or lacked a shared understanding of what peace entailed. He described peace as “the cement that holds people together to actualize prosperity,” citing the US-Iran conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war as examples of conflicts in which parties had differed over approaches to resolution.
Prof. Munene is a scholar of History and International Relations at the United States International University – Africa, Nairobi.
The Summit also brought together representatives of traditional institutions, including King Nabongo Maurice Wambani Rapando II of Wanga Mukulu Wanga Mukulu Kingdom in Kenya, Gregory Makokha, Chairman of Wanga Kingdom, Empress Wanjiku Wairia among others.
From Disruption to Action
The three-day substantive programme examined the challenges affecting peace, prosperity and environmental sustainability before turning to possible solutions and future action.
The first day, held under the subtheme: “Disruptors of Peace, Prosperity and Environmental Sustainability,” examined social, economic, political and environmental factors undermining peace and sustainable development in Africa.
The second day focused on “Pathways to Restoration of Peace, Planet, Prosperity and Sustainability.” Discussions explored innovative approaches, partnerships and community-driven strategies for addressing the challenges identified during the opening sessions.
The final day, under the subtheme: “Charting the Future – From Dialogue to Action,” focused on translating discussions into practical commitments. Participants identified priority areas, strengthened collaboration and considered strategies for advancing the People, Planet, Peace agenda across Africa.
The Summit provided a platform for dialogue and reflection on the interconnected challenges facing people, the environment, peace and prosperity. It also sought to strengthen collaboration among stakeholders and encourage sustainable, inclusive and peaceful approaches to development across the continent.