Religious, Civil Society Leaders Warn of Rising Political Violence Ahead of Kenya’s 2027 Elections

Religious, Civil Society Leaders Warn of Rising Political Violence Ahead of Kenya’s 2027 Elections

By Stella Ranji 

NAIROBI, September 3, 2026 — Religious leaders, constitutional agencies, professional bodies and civil society organisations have raised the alarm over growing political tensions ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election, warning that violence, institutional capture, illicit campaign financing and exclusion could undermine the credibility and peaceful conduct of the polls.

The warning came at the conclusion of a two-day National Stakeholders Convention held at Ufungamano House in Nairobi from September 2–3, bringing together representatives from six umbrella religious institutions, seven constitutional agencies, five professional bodies and 21 civil society organisations.

The convention sought to assess the preparedness of constitutional institutions to deliver democratic, credible and peaceful elections while developing strategies to safeguard the 2027 electoral cycle.

With about 11 months to the election, delegates said anxiety was rising sharply among Kenyans, particularly because of the country's history of violence surrounding elections in which incumbent administrations have sought re-election.

They cited the 1997, 2007 and 2017 elections as examples of polls associated with bloodshed, loss of lives and destruction of livelihoods.

The delegates identified five major risks they said require urgent national attention.

Political violence and youth exploitation

The convention identified political violence, goonism, human rights violations and the exploitation of young people as one of the most serious threats to the 2027 polls.

Delegates criticised what they described as selective policing and alleged links between political gangs and security agencies, arguing that the problem goes beyond youth unemployment.

They also raised allegations of state sponsorship and political protection of groups involved in violence, citing events in Homa Bay County as an example of the deadly consequences of political violence.

Religious leaders pledged to campaign publicly for the speedy and equal arrest and prosecution of individuals who finance or organise political violence.

They warned that officials entrusted with investigative and prosecutorial responsibilities would be held accountable for failing to discharge their constitutional mandates.

Warning against capture of religious institutions

The convention also sounded the alarm over what it described as attempts by political actors to influence and silence religious institutions through monetary donations.

Delegates said political donations to churches and mosques could compromise the independence of religious leaders and undermine their ability to provide moral leadership during the electoral period.

The religious umbrella organisations pledged to mobilise their congregations to restrict political access to religious platforms and promote anonymised giving in churches and mosques.

They further declared that religious institutions would not allow themselves to be used to legitimise political actors.

Money and opaque campaign financing

The delegates described the growing influence of money in Kenyan politics as another major threat to democracy, warning that the country risks moving towards a system in which wealth determines political participation and outcomes.

They said money increasingly influences candidate selection, political competition, election results and governance decisions.

As part of their response, religious leaders committed to using churches, mosques and other places of worship to conduct civic and voter education ahead of the election.

Misinformation and ethnic polarisation

The convention further identified misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and political and ethnic polarisation as major threats to electoral stability.

Delegates said political actors were deliberately constructing narratives designed to discredit opponents and divide Kenyans into opposing camps.

They particularly warned against "us-versus-them" narratives and political zoning, which they said could deepen ethnic and political divisions.

Religious leaders pledged to promote positive narratives aimed at strengthening national cohesion and to work with other stakeholders to establish fact-checking mechanisms capable of distributing credible information to the public.

Youth, women and PWDs face exclusion

The convention also highlighted what delegates described as the persistent exclusion of young people, women and persons with disabilities from political leadership and decision-making.

The delegates cited figures showing that people under 35, despite constituting about 75 per cent of the population, account for only about four per cent of elected parliamentary positions.

Women, who make up roughly half of the population, hold about 23 per cent of National Assembly seats, while persons with disabilities, estimated at 2.2 per cent of the population, account for about one per cent of elected positions.

Religious leaders pledged to use their institutional structures to mobilise communities and traditional structures to create greater opportunities for young people, women and persons with disabilities to secure elected and appointed leadership positions.

They also committed to reviewing laws, policies and internal religious-institutional practices that exclude the three groups from leadership and decision-making.

Call for citizens to participate

The Convention concluded with a call for Kenyans not to be intimidated or discouraged from participating in the country's political and governance processes.

Delegates observed that political and electoral violence has historically been used to intimidate citizens and discourage participation, creating an environment in which only supporters of political perpetrators turn out to vote.

They urged citizens to remain engaged, arguing that participation in democratic processes is essential to protecting Kenya's future.

The religious leaders anchored their call for vigilance in teachings from both Christianity and Islam, citing Proverbs 22:3, which urges the prudent to recognise danger and seek refuge, and Quran 2:195, which warns against throwing oneself into destruction.

The Convention called on constitutional institutions, political actors, religious organisations, civil society and ordinary citizens to act early to prevent a repeat of Kenya's history of electoral violence and ensure that the 2027 General Election is peaceful, credible, inclusive and democratic.