(Nairobi, 13 April 2026). More than 700 people including a genocide survivor, members of the Diplomatic Corps, Government officials, the Rwanda diaspora in Kenya, students and UN staff met on the 7th of April, 2026 at the Â鶹APP Offices at Nairobi to mark The International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi in Rwanda under the theme, ¡°Remember, Unite, Renew.¡±
This year marks the 32nd year since the genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda occurred. Within a span of 100 days from 7th April, 1994, more than a million people were murdered ¨C primarily Tutsi, but also Hutu and others who opposed the genocide.
The genocide left deep social, political and psychological scars for the Rwandan people.
The Â鶹APP General Assembly designated 7 April as the International Day of Reflection on the 1994 Genocide Against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Each year governments, the UN and people come together to remember the victims who died and to honour survivors.
The 1994 genocide against the Tutsis in Rwanda was orchestrated and planned.
During the 32nd Commemoration at the UN Offices at Nairobi, a survivor of the genocide, Mr Serge Rwigamba, gave a harrowing testimony-he implored the audience to embody the phrase "Never again" and to take concrete actions to prevent such atrocities from reoccurring in the world.
Victims and survivors of the genocide were honored through the lighting of candles, Students from Daystar University and Rwandan children¡¯s choirs performed before the solemn audience. A short film titled ¡°Rwanda: From Despair to Hope¡± was screened and an exhibition depicting lessons from the Rwanda genocide was displayed at the UN Offices at Nairobi main lobby for over a week.
UNhabitat Executive Director, UNON Director-General, Rwanda High Commissioner, Government representative, Survivor and invited guests honored the victims and survivors of the genocide honored through the lighting of candles.
UNON¡¯s Director-General, Ms. Zainab Hawa Bangura, read out the UN Secretary-General¡¯s message for the commemoration in memory of fallen heroines and survivors of the Rwanda genocide against the Tutsis. The message read in part that, ¡°It¡¯s not enough to remember the dead. We must learn from past failures and protect the living ¨C by rejecting hatred, inflammatory rhetoric and incitement to violence; by investing in the social fabric to deepen community resilience; and by strengthening institutions that help prevent mass atrocities.¡±
The UN Secretary-General further called on all countries, ¡°to become parties to the Genocide Convention without delay ¨C and to implement it fully.¡±
The Genocide Convention was adopted by the UN General Assembly on 9 December, 1948 -it was the first Human rights treaty that codified Genocide as a Crime Against Human rights and obligated states to act on it.
Participants listened to the global message, mourning the victims and honouring their stolen dignity while reflecting on the UN Secretary-Generals¡¯ message which partly reflected on ¡°the international community¡¯s failure to heed warnings and take immediate lifesaving action during conflicts.¡±
Participants attending the commemoration in memory of fallen heroines and survivors of the Rwanda genocide against the Tutsis at UN Office in Nairobi
The UN Secretary-General¡¯s global message was clear- ¡°the Â鶹APP stands with the people of Rwanda and with all those, everywhere, who refuse to surrender our future to fear, division, or silence.¡±
Rwanda¡¯s High Commissioner to Kenya, H.E. Ernest Rwamucyo, and H. E Ambassador Dennis Gathogo Mburu on behalf of the Kenyan government also gave messages reflecting on the prevention of genocide.
The commemoration ended with a walk to remember the Genocide victims.
