Freedom of Religion or Belief is a two-year project funded by IAS Denmark being implemented in Isiolo County. The projects long term change is strengthened resilience to religious intolerance in Isiolo County, where community members are upholding the rights towards respecting, protecting, and promoting religious freedom and belief and living in harmony with each other. The FoRB project was officially launched in Isiolo County in August 2025, freedom of religion is enshrined in all the major human rights treaties, national laws and is key to building a secure and prosperous society. It is among the few human rights that are fully protected by international law for equity and equality in development for the people. As the world faces a period of political turmoil and economic uncertainty, rising inequali- ties and social discontent, freedom of religion or belief is coming under pressure from various sources and for a multitude of reasons. In Kenya, freedom of religion or belief, is experiencing unprecedented pressures from effects of geopolitical actions, porous borders and the biting degrade in societal values with runaway degrade in societal values with runaway corruption vices, leading to increasing incidences of radicalization, extremism and i ntolerance between the major religions mainly, Islam and Christianity.

The project covers three wards in Isiolo Central business district, namely Bula Pesa, Burat and Wabera Ward. Isiolo County ha s experienced religious conflicts, which are used to cause division among the major religions. The major religions are Muslims and Christians, where there have been cases of throwing stones in churches, burning of churches and mosques, discrimination and intolerance on religious grounds. The first phase started by bringing together all the religious leaders, community leaders, women and youth leaders, those invited were Muslims, Christians, traditional religions and beliefs e.g. Ayana, (Muslim sect), Njuri Ncheke (Meru traditional movement). The atheists are normally invited but no one has come to profess atheism. Freedom of religion and beli ef does not protect religions but protects people’s rights to freedom of religion and belief. This right protects the individual right to have a religion, to leave a religion, or to stay without a religion all together.

The second phase was able to bring together all stakeholders, in the county in sensitizing the community on freedom of religi on and belief through workshops, public gatherings, women visited others at household level and religious leaders visited others place of worship in order to have a deep understanding of others religions and beliefs. This activity is meant to allow people from di fferent religions and beliefs interact and practice tolerance. Also in the second phase, women and youth were trained on ski lls and entrepreneurship including business ventures. The process of placing the youth in various skills is ongoing, the skills short listed are, motorbike and phone repair, saloons, cake baking (pastry), computer training and electrical installation. The women are geared to start income generating activities once the funds are available. The skills will be performed by participants from different relig ions and beliefs in order to practice tolerance.

The three wards have experienced isolated cases of intolerance, discrimination and tribal conflicts. However, those who have been sensitized on freedom of religion and belief have been able to intervene and resolve some of the conflicts.

Freedom of religion and belief should not only be practiced by Muslims and Christians, we have had occasions where people of different denominations have conflicts and even discriminate against each other, therefore our future focus as a Project is to go further and meet religious leaders from different denominations and sensitize them on freedom of religion and belief so that they can promote and protect freedom of religion and belief. The Muslims also have sects, which discriminate against each other e.g. within the Shia and the Sunni, there has been cases of discrimination and intolerance is reported amongst themselves. It is therefore recommended that we reach out to locations, where Free Pentecostal Fellowship in Kenya churches are located and then bring together the neighboring leaders from different denomination and sensitize them on freedom of religion and belief. The FoRB project operates under one project lead er and three volunteers, who are in charge of the three Wards.