The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has postponed the signing of a peace charter with political parties after the parties rejected the document, saying they had not been adequately involved in its formulation.
The Political Decency, Peace and Accountability Charter was to be signed on Tuesday at the end of a two-day NCIC retreat aimed at developing measures to curb political violence, incitement and the use of goons ahead of Kenya’s 2027 general election.
But the proposed signing was called off after parties complained that they had only seen the charter shortly before the meeting and had been rushed into signing it.
“We have been brought to sign the charter without enough time. We saw it yesterday and we have been hurried to sign it. As political parties and the commission came in, it has no legal force, it has no support for our country. We have rejected it for further review. We have never seen this charter,” Republican Liberty Party chairman David Momanyi Mose said.
The parties also criticised the absence of major political parties from the retreat, arguing that the charter could not effectively address political violence without the participation of parties whose members have been accused of involvement in such incidents.
“Parties have been reluctant to sign the charter because the major political parties causing this violence did not attend. Why did they not attend? UDA, surely,” Democratic National Alliance Secretary General Barack Muluka said.
The parties further accused the authorities of failing to act against politicians accused of inflammatory statements and violence, saying political parties should not be blamed for unrest when individuals responsible were not being held accountable.
“Kuna katibu aliongea vibaya juzi, hajashikwa. Ata Homa Bay tuliona chenye ilifanyika na serikali haijafanya chochote. Sasa wanalaumu vyama. Ni chama gani imesababisha machafuko? Ni wanasiasa. Watu wanauana na NCIC imenyamaza tu. Tumeweka watu kwa kazi, wakishindwa wanalaumu vyama,” Mose said.
They also demanded a commitment from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to conduct a free and fair election, as well as assurances from the NCIC and police that those who break the law would face action.
“IEBC should be here to commit that they will deliver a free and fair election. They are not here. IEBC should begin showing it can deliver the same to NCIC and police,” Muluka said.
The NCIC said it would now engage political party principals and officials before convening another forum to formally sign the charter.
“We will talk to all party principals and officials and convene another forum where we will now officially sign the peace charter before we move to the grassroots,” NCIC chairman Kepha Omae said.
The commission said the charter would be signed within a week before the peace campaign moves to the grassroots.