A national call to conscience and action
Religious leaders, constitutional agencies, professional bodies and civil society met to identify the greatest threats to the next electoral cycle—and agree on practical action.
The Convention brought together
Why the Convention mattered
The National Stakeholders’ Convention convened at Ufungamano House on 2–3 September 2026 to assess the readiness of key institutions and formulate strategies for a democratic, credible and peaceful electoral cycle.
The discussions distilled a complex national challenge into five connected risks requiring immediate attention—not only from election agencies and political actors, but from citizens, faith communities, media and civil society.
The Convention agenda
Each risk demands prevention, accountability and sustained public participation.
Violence, intimidation, human-rights violations and the recruitment of vulnerable youth can suppress participation, distort voter choice and undermine peaceful competition.
Priority: Prevent violence, protect civic freedoms and hold organisers and financiers accountable.
Political control of public institutions, state resources or faith platforms weakens neutrality and public confidence in the electoral process.
Priority: Safeguard institutional independence and uphold ethical boundaries between faith and political actors.
Unregulated money distorts competition, buys influence and allows wealthy interests to shape electoral and governance outcomes.
Priority: Strengthen transparency and enforcement while confronting voter bribery and illicit finance.
False information, inflammatory speech and identity-based mobilisation can manipulate voters, deepen divisions and trigger conflict.
Priority: Build fact-checking and early-response systems and promote issue-based public discourse.
Barriers to participation and leadership deny significant sections of society meaningful influence over electoral outcomes.
Priority: Make nominations and electoral processes genuinely accessible, inclusive and affordable.
From dialogue to action
The Communiqué sets out a programme of public engagement, institutional accountability and faith-led action.
Download the full CommuniquéCampaign for the speedy and equal arrest and prosecution of those who organise or finance political violence.
Protect faith platforms from political capture, anonymise giving and refuse the religious legitimisation of wrongdoing.
Deliver sustained civic and voter education through places of worship and community networks.
Promote positive narratives and establish practical structures for fact-checking and countering hate speech.
Expand leadership opportunities for youth, women and persons with disabilities and review exclusionary laws and policies.
Citizens must reject election bribery, resist manipulation and participate actively in safeguarding their own future.
In the public conversation
Newsday Kenya
Coverage reflecting the warnings, commitments and public-interest questions raised at the Convention.
The Star
Radio Generation Kenya
The Star
Read, share, act
Access the Communiqué, programme, speeches, presentations, research and civic-education materials.
