Police warns against revenge and hatred ahead of 2027

Nairobi, Kenya – Deputy Inspector General Douglas Masengeli has warned Kenyans to refrain from allowing political disagreements to incite retaliation, animosity and violence ahead of the 2027 General Election. He urged the public to reject the notion of vengeance and instead concentrate on fostering a peaceful nation. "Or you did this to me, or I have to retaliation, I have to, no. Plan yourself, strive for the betterment," Masengeli stated.

Addressing a national stakeholders conference on peaceful elections, Masengeli highlighted that Kenya's political landscape was grappling with escalating threats stemming from political polarization, identity-based mobilization, hate speech, misinformation, disinformation, and goonism. He cautioned that failure to tackle these issues promptly could erode public confidence and social cohesion.

"Elections are a defining moment in any democracy. Our shared responsibility is to guarantee that the process is peaceful, secure, and the rights and freedoms of all Kenyans are protected," he emphasized. Masengeli also alluded to recent unrest in Embu, where a vehicle was set ablaze during the disruption of a UDA delegates' meeting at Nembure Grounds.

He questioned the rationale behind destroying someone's property due to political differences, pointing out that the vehicle belonged to a young man who had recently purchased it using a loan. "If you want to burn a vehicle, why not burn yours that you took a loan and bought? Will you feel satisfied?" he inquired. The Embu incident resulted in one fatality, several injured police officers, and several vehicles torched, with two suspects subsequently apprehended.

Masengeli stressed that Kenya possesses robust laws to address criminal conduct but cautioned that the primary challenge lies in implementation. "Kenya is among the best nations with good laws, but the problem lies in implementation," he remarked. He implored political leaders and Kenyans to respect each other's rights and collaborate to ensure a peaceful election before, during, and after the 2027 polls.