The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) is spearheading a multi-agency initiative aimed at promoting peaceful political engagement ahead of Kenya's 2027 General Election. Central to this plan is a proposed peace charter that all political parties will be required to sign.
NCIC Chairman Bishop Kepha Nyamweya told Citizen TV that the commission is in discussions to ensure that political parties and candidates commit to non-violent conduct, with candidates potentially needing clearance from NCIC, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) before contesting.
Key Elements of the Peace Initiative
- Mandatory signing of a peace charter by all political parties.
- Candidate vetting involving NCIC, ORPP, and IEBC.
- Collaboration among multiple state agencies including the National Police Service.
- Efforts to address hate speech, ethnic polarisation, and political incitement.
Nyamweya emphasized that maintaining peace is a collective responsibility, stating, "Multi-agency collaboration is very key. This time, it’s not going to be left to NCIC alone." The commission has already worked closely with other agencies to develop a roadmap targeting violence-free elections.
The move comes amid concerns over increasing ethnic tensions and hate speech linked to political activities. Nyamweya condemned some political actors for exacerbating divisions, warning that such behaviour risks inciting violence.
Recent incidents, such as the unrest during the Linda Mwananchi rally in Homa Bay, have underscored the urgency of these efforts. NCIC has summoned local leaders over inflammatory remarks and called for joint action against organised political violence.
Nyamweya concluded with a call for unity: "We don’t have another country; we only have one country called Kenya. We must stamp out these organised criminal gangs."
