Kenya Gears Up for 8th People Dialogue Festival: A National Call to Issue-Based Politics

By Bruno Aero Family Media & Tv 

Nairobi, March 3, 2026 — The Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD-Kenya) has announced final preparations for the 8th Edition of the People Dialogue Festival (PDF), a four-day civic platform set to unite Kenyans in structured, inclusive, and issue-based dialogue.

Dialogue as a Democratic Necessity

CMD-Kenya emphasized that dialogue is not optional but essential in a rapidly evolving democracy. It builds trust, enhances accountability, and shifts political discourse toward practical solutions that improve governance and electoral integrity.

Since October 2025, the organization has hosted high-level policy dialogues, county town hall forums, and school-based engagements, all feeding into the Festival’s agenda. These citizen-driven perspectives will culminate in a consolidated national issue-based agenda to guide democratic engagement beyond the event.

Festival Methodology: Plenaries and Gumzos

The Festival will feature joint plenary sessions on elections preparedness, governance reforms, political accountability, and citizen participation. Alongside these, thematic dialogue areas — known as Gumzos — will allow stakeholders to engage deeply on specialized themes such as electoral integrity, party reforms, gender equality, and social inclusion.

2026 Focus: Elections Preparedness

As Kenya’s premier multiparty dialogue platform, CMD-Kenya brings together more than 30 political parties, civil society organizations, state institutions, and citizens to strengthen democratic culture through dialogue rather than division. The Festival, co-convened by over 50 civil society groups and involving schools, universities, and key state agencies such as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), underscores a whole-of-society approach to democracy.

Dialogue as a Democratic Necessity

Since October 2025, the organization has hosted high-level policy dialogues, county town hall forums, and school-based engagements, all feeding into the Festival’s agenda. These citizen-driven perspectives will culminate in a consolidated national issue-based agenda to guide democratic engagement beyond the event.

2026 Focus: Elections Preparedness

This year’s central theme is elections preparedness. IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon will lead reflections with state and non-state actors on voter registration, electoral technology, party readiness, dispute resolution, and civic education. In a practical step toward citizen engagement, voter registration services will be available at the festival venue throughout the four days.

A National Call to Dialogue

CMD-Kenya Executive Director Frankline Mukwanja urged the media and citizens alike to embrace the Festival as a platform to shape Kenya’s democratic future. “The People Dialogue Festival is for all Kenyans — leaders and citizens — to engage respectfully and constructively on issues that matter most to our electoral and governance journey,” he said.

With broad-based participation and a focus on elections preparedness, the 8th People Dialogue Festival promises to be a landmark moment in Kenya’s democratic evolution — one that prioritizes issues over personalities and dialogue over division.