Govt assures Kenyans of peaceful elections, warns politicians against divisive campaigns

NAIROBI, Kenya - The Kenyan government has pledged to ensure a peaceful and free election cycle ahead of the 2027 General Election, while cautioning political leaders against divisive campaigns based on ethnicity, religion, and regional identities. Principal Secretary for Internal Security and National Administration, Raymond Omollo, emphasized the government's commitment to enabling Kenyans to freely choose their leaders without coercion or intimidation.

He urged politicians to prioritize national unity over political interests and called on young Kenyans to reject ethnic and regional politics in favor of a national identity. Omollo challenged individuals to view themselves as Kenyans, irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliations, and emphasized that the country's political discourse should focus on the future and the challenges faced by citizens.

He urged Kenyans to participate in discussions about the country's development beyond 2032, particularly in areas such as education, healthcare, infrastructure, and livelihoods, and stressed the importance of including every community in national progress and efforts to improve citizens' livelihoods. The assurance of peaceful elections comes as political activity intensifies for the upcoming general election, with politicians and their allies positioning themselves for the contest.

The government's priority is to create an environment in which citizens can exercise their democratic rights without fear or intimidation, linking peaceful elections to the broader need for national cohesion. Omollo highlighted education as a key tool for reducing inequality, describing it as the country's "greatest equalizer" and announced that the government had allocated over KSh780 billion to education in the current budget, as well as recruiting over 100,000 teachers and constructing about 28,000 classrooms nationwide.

He also mentioned ongoing reforms to higher-education financing to ensure students can pursue their preferred courses regardless of their family's financial circumstances. In Kajiado, Omollo reported that about 90% of learners had successfully transitioned to junior or senior school, and the government was working with education officials, chiefs, assistant chiefs, village elders, teachers, and parents to achieve a 100% transition rate.

He also announced efforts to bring government services closer to residents through additional administrative units and welcomed the removal of additional vetting requirements for residents of border counties seeking national identity cards. Accurate population and voter registration data are crucial for ensuring equitable resource allocation, according to Omollo.

On healthcare, approximately 65% of Kajiado residents have registered with the Social Health Authority, and the government will continue to support education initiatives in Kajiado Central to ensure learners receive opportunities comparable to those available elsewhere in Kenya.