The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) has launched a new plan to prevent political tensions from turning into violence ahead of the 2027 General Election, putting early detection of conflict, closer monitoring of political activity and faster response at the centre of its peace efforts.
The Roadmap to a Peaceful General Election 2027 brings together government agencies, political parties and leaders, security agencies, civil society groups, religious leaders, the media and communities in a joint effort to protect peace throughout the election period.
Speaking during the launch in Nairobi on Tuesday, NCIC chairperson Kepha Omae said the commission would move away from responding to conflicts after they occur and instead work to identify and address warning signs before they grow into violence.
“We are not a reactive commission. We are a preventive commission,” he said.
Omae said the NCIC would strengthen its early warning and early response systems by identifying areas at risk of conflict, tracking political and community tensions and improving ways of resolving disputes before they escalate.
The roadmap looks at a range of issues that could fuel electoral conflict, including political intolerance, ethnic mobilisation, hate speech, disinformation, organised criminal gangs, youth vulnerability, historical grievances and existing community disputes.
According to the commission's analysis, inter-communal conflicts have been reported in 35 of Kenya's 47 counties, raising concern that such disputes could be used to fuel tensions during the election period.
Omae said the NCIC would therefore improve conflict hotspot mapping, mediation structures and peace and cohesion monitoring to ensure it receives timely information from communities.
The commission will also keep watch on public spaces and social media platforms, including X, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, to identify hate speech and dangerous speech and recommend cases for prosecution where necessary.
“We must therefore remember that leadership carries responsibility,” Omae said, calling on political leaders, aspirants and opinion shapers to exercise restraint and reject politics based on exclusion.
He said young people would be given a central role in peace-building efforts through transgenerational dialogue, civic engagement and other programmes.
“They must not be viewed as instruments of political violence, but as partners and leaders in the peace building process in Kenya,” he said.
The NCIC also wants more resources to implement the roadmap, with Omae saying adequate funding would be needed to strengthen the commission's work and protect the country's peace landscape ahead of the election.
Among the measures proposed in the roadmap are peace caravans, roadshows, town-hall meetings, chief barazas and sports-for-peace tournaments in areas considered vulnerable to conflict.
The commission also plans to strengthen mediation capacity at county and sub-county levels to help communities address disputes before they become wider security concerns.
“Every leader must choose responsible speech over inflammatory rhetoric. Every political party must place the interests of the country above vested political interests. Every citizen must reject incitement, violence, and manipulation,” Omae said.
The roadmap comes as political activity increases ahead of the 2027 General Election, with the NCIC citing cases of hate speech, ethnic profiling and incitement to violence as issues that require early intervention.
The commission has already summoned several political leaders over remarks it considers potentially inflammatory. Those summoned include former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Health CS Aden Duale, Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku, Busia Governor Paul Otuoma, Homa Bay Town MP Peter Kaluma and Mukurwe-ini MP John Kaguchia.
The leaders were summoned over allegations involving hate speech, ethnic incitement and inflammatory public remarks.