Political parties could face tougher conditions before the 2027 General Election if a proposal by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) is adopted, with the commission seeking a formal commitment from parties and a greater role in vetting candidates.
NCIC Chairman Bishop Kepha Nyamweya said the commission was working with key election agencies and political actors on measures meant to keep the country calm as political activity increases ahead of the polls.
The plan includes a peace charter that all political parties would be required to sign as part of efforts to promote peaceful campaigns and discourage conduct that could lead to violence.
Nyamweya said talks were ongoing on how candidates seeking different elective positions would be cleared before being allowed to contest.
"Every political party is going to sign a peace charter. We are in discussions that anybody who is going to vie for any electoral post must be cleared by NCIC, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, and the IEBC might be the last one to approve before anybody is approved to vie for a political position," Nyamweya stated.
Multi-agency plan takes shape
Speaking during an interview with Citizen Tv on Monday, August 17, 2026, Nyamweya said the NCIC was no longer looking at election peace as the responsibility of one institution.
He said the commission had prepared a plan that would bring together political parties, government agencies and other stakeholders before and during the 2027 election period.
“We have come up with what we call a roadmap for the violence-free elections in 2027, where we would want all the stakeholders to be involved in this engagement and at the end of the day, we are going to sign a peace charter.”
According to Nyamweya, cooperation among the different institutions would be central to preventing problems that have previously affected political activities.
“You see what we are talking of a multi- aent collaboration which is very key. This one and this time it’s not going to be left to NCIC alone.”
The commission has been working with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the National Police Service and other agencies as preparations for the next election continue.
The NCIC chairman said the commission was worried by political messages that he said were deepening divisions among Kenyans.
He pointed to ethnic polarisation, hate speech and statements that could encourage citizens to turn against each other, saying such behaviour needed to be addressed before the election period becomes more intense.
“It’s unfortunate that we have a section of political actors who have decided to go all the way to polarising the political climate in this country by not being responsible. We are seeing a situation that must be tamed; we are seeing ethnic polarisation. We are seeing hate speech, inciting the citizenry of this country into what I would call violence.”
His comments followed violence reported during the Linda Mwananchi rally in Homa Bay on Sunday, August 16, 2026.
The NCIC has also summoned Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma over remarks he made ahead of a political rally in Homa Bay.
Push against political gangs
Nyamweya further called for action against groups involved in violence during political events, saying such activities could put the country's peace at risk.
"We don't have another country; we only have one country called Kenya. We must stamp out these organised criminal gangs. Whoever is triggering this kind of goonism must stop."
The proposed peace charter is expected to provide political parties with a shared commitment to peaceful competition as they prepare for the 2027 polls.
The NCIC says the wider plan will bring together political actors and state institutions to tackle hate speech, ethnic mobilisation and violence while promoting peaceful participation in the election.