RELIGIOUS LEADERS WARN OF RISING POLITICAL VIOLENCE, STATE CAPTURE AHEAD OF 2027 ELECTIONS

NAIROBI, September 3, 2026 — Religious leaders and other stakeholders have raised alarm over rising political tension, violence, state capture and exclusion of young people, women and persons with disabilities as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election.

The warning was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a two-day National Stakeholders Convention held at Ufungamano House in Nairobi from September 2 to 3, 2026.

The convention brought together representatives from six umbrella religious institutions, seven constitutional agencies, five professional bodies and 21 civil society organisations. Its main objective was to assess the readiness of constitutional bodies to deliver democratic, credible and peaceful elections and develop strategies to safeguard the 2027 electoral cycle.

The delegates said anxiety and tension were rising about 11 months to the General Election, citing fears of violence associated with previous elections in 1997, 2007 and 2017, when incumbents were re-elected amid bloodshed, loss of lives and destruction of livelihoods.

Political violence and goonism

The stakeholders identified political violence, goonism, human rights violations and the exploitation of youth as among the major threats to the 2027 elections.

They expressed concern over what they described as the normalisation of violence and alleged state-sponsored goonism, arguing that selective policing had blurred the distinction between political gangs and security agencies.

The communiqué further alleged that some goons operate alongside police officers while enjoying political protection, citing events in Homa Bay County as an example.

Religious leaders committed themselves to publicly campaign for the speedy and equal arrest and prosecution of individuals who finance violence. They also warned that leaders of investigative and prosecutorial agencies would be held personally responsible for dereliction of duty.

Warning against political capture of religious institutions

The convention also raised concerns over the use of political donations to influence and silence religious institutions.

The leaders said political actors were using monetary donations to gain access to faith institutions and enhance their public image, warning that such practices could undermine the moral voice of religious leaders.

The umbrella religious bodies committed to mobilising their members and congregations to restrict political access to their platforms. They also proposed campaigns for anonymised giving in churches and mosques and declared that they would not allow themselves to be used to legitimise political actors.

Money politics and opaque campaign financing

The stakeholders identified money, opaque campaign financing and elite capture as another major threat to Kenya's democracy.

They said the monetisation of politics had reached a crisis point, with money influencing candidate selection, political competition, election outcomes and governance decisions.

To counter the trend, the delegates committed to conducting civic and voter education through places of worship.

Misinformation and ethnic polarisation

The convention further warned about the growing use of misinformation, disinformation, hate speech and political and ethnic polarisation.

The leaders accused political actors of deliberately creating narratives that divide Kenyans into opposing camps and portray certain groups as the problem.

They also linked such narratives to political zoning debates.

Religious leaders committed to developing positive narratives aimed at promoting national cohesion and working with other stakeholders to establish fact-checking structures for distributing credible information.

Youth, women and PWDs face exclusion

The convention expressed concern over the continued exclusion of young people, women and persons with disabilities from leadership and decision-making positions.

According to the communiqué, people below the age of 35 account for 75 per cent of the population but held only four per cent of elected parliamentary positions. Women, who constitute 50 per cent of the population, held 23 per cent of National Assembly seats, while persons with disabilities, who account for 2.2 per cent of the population, held one per cent of elective positions.

The religious leaders pledged to use their structures to create opportunities for youth, women and persons with disabilities to be elected or appointed to leadership positions.

They also committed to reviewing laws and policies, including those within religious institutions, that exclude the three groups from leadership and decision-making.

Call for Kenyans to reject election bribery

The stakeholders urged Kenyans to actively participate in political and governance processes, warning that violence, intimidation and economic hardship can be used to discourage citizens from voting.

They criticised the practice of politicians distributing money during elections, arguing that some of the funds come from financiers who later demand government contracts, while others are allegedly obtained through corruption.

The communiqué warned that such practices contribute to manipulation of government tenders and poor-quality public projects.

The leaders called on Kenyans to reject election bribery as a way of ending illicit political financing.

Collective responsibility for peaceful elections

In their conclusion, the stakeholders said Kenya faces serious risks as it approaches the 14th General Election, which they noted is about 11 months away.

They called for collective action and emphasised that building a better Kenya is the responsibility of every citizen.

The communiqué was signed on September 3, 2026, at Ufungamano House by representatives including Rt Rev Simon Peter Kamomoe of KCCB, Bishop Dr Calisto Odede of the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya, Sheikh Abdullah Salat of SUPKEM and Rev Dr Elias Agola of NCCK.