The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) CEO Daniel Mutegi during a consultative forum at CORAT Africa on August 26, 2026. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]
The National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), religious leaders and civil society organisations have joined forces to promote peaceful coexistence and prevent political violence ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election.
The commitment was made on Wednesday during a consultative forum at CORAT Africa in Nairobi, where the NCIC, Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK), World Vision Kenya, government representatives, civil society organisations and development partners agreed on measures to tackle hate speech, misinformation, political polarisation and identity-based mobilisation.
The groups warned that the 2027 elections should not be viewed merely as a contest for political power, but as an important test of Kenya’s national cohesion, social trust and institutional resilience.
In a joint communiqué, the participants reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful elections and called on political leaders to reject violence, intimidation, ethnic mobilisation and goonism.
“We, the religious leaders, faith-based institutions, government representatives, civil society organisations, and development partners, do hereby issue this solemn communiqué to reaffirm our collective commitment to national cohesion, peace, and peaceful elections ahead of 2027,” the communiqué states.
The initiative comes against the background of Kenya’s history of election-related political violence and rising concerns over inflammatory political rhetoric and the use of digital platforms to spread divisive content.
"Political competition must not divide our communities, ethnic identity must not be weaponized for political gain, and our diversity must remain a source of strength rather than division," NCIC CEO Daniel Mutegi said.