Shaukat Abdulrazak urged research-led mediation during a virtual address to the East Africa Annual Mediator Conference.
Principal Secretary Shaukat Abdulrazak calls for data-led mediation to prevent disputes, build public trust and support regional trade.
Kenya is calling for stronger East Africa mediation through research, reliable data and digital technology. The push aims to prevent conflicts, strengthen public trust and support trade and investment across the region.
Science, Research and Innovation Principal Secretary Shaukat Abdulrazak outlined the approach during the first East Africa Annual Mediator Conference. He addressed the gathering virtually, urging stakeholders to anticipate disputes rather than respond only after conflict emerges.
The conference focused on using research and innovation to strengthen mediation, peace and sustainable development in East Africa.
Research to strengthen East Africa mediation
Abdulrazak said evidence-based decisions and technological innovation could make mediation more effective as regional economic integration advances. He also called for reliable research to guide how mediators understand and address disputes.
Rather than relying on reactive conflict resolution, he urged approaches that combine technology with research to build lasting peace. Digital tools, he said, should support better understanding of disputes and help shape responses.
His appeal placed prevention alongside dispute resolution, with public confidence and social cohesion among the wider goals. Mediation, he said, could also help create conditions that support trade and investment.
Peace and regional economic cooperation
As East African countries deepen cooperation, unresolved disputes can weaken trust and damage economic relationships. Effective mediation therefore has a role in sustaining collaboration and development across the region.
Abdulrazak linked peace to justice, development and prosperity, stressing that it means more than an absence of conflict. He also urged stakeholders to use dialogue and collaboration to turn disputes into opportunities for cooperation.
Partnerships to turn research into practical solutions
Meanwhile, Abdulrazak reaffirmed the State Department for Science, Research and Innovation’s commitment to supporting partnerships. These partnerships would help translate research findings and innovative ideas into practical solutions for society.
He called on stakeholders to work together on mediation approaches that promote lasting peace and sustainable development.
