Religious Leaders Sound Alarm Over Violence Ahead of 2027 Elections

​By Greenspan Dulo | The Pressman Kenya

Kenya could be heading into a tense 2027 General Election unless urgent steps are taken to stop political violence, voter bribery, hate speech and the growing influence of money in politics, religious leaders have warned.

The warning came Thursday at Ufungamano House in Nairobi, where religious leaders, constitutional agencies, professionals and civil society organisations met to discuss how Kenya can achieve peaceful, credible and democratic elections in 2027.

The two-day National Stakeholders Convention brought together representatives from six major religious umbrella bodies, seven constitutional agencies, five professional organisations and 21 civil society groups.

The leaders said Kenyans are already experiencing growing anxiety as the country approaches the next election, with memories of the violence witnessed during the 1997, 2007 and 2017 elections still fresh.

‘Stop political violence’

The religious leaders raised concerns over what they described as the growing normalisation of political violence and goonism.

They accused some political actors of using young people to cause chaos and violence, while claiming that selective policing has made it difficult to distinguish between political gangs and security agencies.

The leaders also alleged that some goons enjoy political protection.

They pointed to violence in Homa Bay County as an example of the dangers facing the country, claiming that the situation resulted in so many deaths that a mortuary was forced to close.

They vowed to campaign for the arrest and prosecution of people who finance political violence, warning that officials responsible for investigations and prosecutions must also be held accountable when they fail to act.

Religious leaders reject political ‘capture’

The leaders also took aim at politicians who make donations to churches and mosques.

They warned that such donations could be used to influence religious leaders and weaken their ability to speak freely on matters affecting Kenyans.

The religious institutions said they would mobilise their members to discourage politicians from using religious platforms for political purposes.

They also proposed anonymous giving in churches and mosques to reduce political influence through donations.

‘Kenya is becoming a money-driven democracy’

The convention also raised concern about the amount of money being used in Kenyan politics.

The leaders argued that wealthy individuals increasingly have an advantage in deciding who gets political positions, who wins elections and how government decisions are made.

They called on Kenyans to reject election bribery, arguing that money handed out by politicians can come from wealthy financiers seeking government contracts or, allegedly, from public resources.

They questioned why Kenyans would accept small amounts of money during campaigns from politicians accused of stealing millions or billions meant for public services and development.

The leaders urged voters to look beyond campaign handouts and carefully examine the character, record and policies of candidates.

Warning over social media and tribal politics

Misinformation, hate speech and ethnic politics were also identified as major threats to the 2027 elections.

The leaders accused politicians of deliberately creating “us versus them” narratives to divide Kenyans and weaken their opponents.

They pledged to work with other stakeholders to promote fact-checking and truthful information ahead of the elections.

Youth and women still left behind

The religious leaders further criticised the continued exclusion of young people, women and persons with disabilities from leadership.

They noted that despite young people under 35 making up about 75 per cent of Kenya’s population, they hold only a small share of elected positions in Parliament.

Women, who make up roughly half of the population, also remain under-represented in the National Assembly, while persons with disabilities have an even smaller presence in elective leadership.

The religious leaders promised to use their churches, mosques and other structures to encourage greater participation by these groups in leadership.

‘Kenyans must wake up’

As Kenya moves closer to the 2027 elections, the religious leaders urged citizens not to allow fear, violence or money to determine their political choices.

They called on Kenyans to participate actively in elections and governance while rejecting political bribery.

The leaders said building a better Kenya is not the responsibility of politicians alone but of every citizen.

Their message was clear: Kenyans must reject violence, reject voter bribery and choose leaders based on integrity, competence and their ability to serve the public.

The communiqué was signed on September 3 by representatives of KCCB, EAK, SUPKEM and NCCK.

THE PRESSMAN

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