Women Leaders Raise Alarm Over Rising Political Violence Ahead of 2027 Elections

By Bruno Aero Family Media  Desk

Women leaders, political aspirants and peace actors have called for urgent electoral reforms and stronger measures to curb political violence targeting women and young people ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The groups have also raised concerns over the high cost of political campaigns and uncertainty surrounding the implementation of campaign financing regulations, warning that financial barriers could limit the participation of women and other underrepresented groups in elective politics.

In a joint statement issued in Nairobi on October 29, the Democracy Trust Fund (DTF), Women Peace Actors and Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF) said incidents of violence, intimidation and harassment reported in several counties threatened the safety and political rights of women seeking leadership positions.

They cited reported cases in Kisii, Baringo, Kisumu, Meru, Nairobi and Homa Bay, where women leaders and aspirants have allegedly faced heckling, physical attacks, online harassment and gender-based intimidation.

Among the incidents highlighted was an alleged attack on woman representative aspirant Linda Ogweno during a funeral gathering in Nyamasaria, Kisumu County, on October 20.

The groups also cited reports that Dr July Nyamao faced heckling, public humiliation and physical attacks during a political engagement in Kisii County.

In Meru, they raised concerns over reported violent confrontations involving former Governor Kawira Mwangaza and her associates, while in Homa Bay they pointed to political violence reported in August, including deaths, injuries and property damage.

Although the allegations require investigation and verification, the organisations said the incidents reflected recurring patterns of violence that needed urgent intervention before the country enters the formal campaign period.

They cited findings by FIDA Kenya, which documented 1,746 cases of election-related sexual and gender-based violence across the country during the 2022 electoral period.

According to the statement, verbal abuse and hate speech accounted for 54 per cent of the reported cases, while cyberbullying represented 23 per cent.

The organisations called on the National Police Service, Directorate of Criminal Investigations, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and other security agencies to investigate reported cases, protect victims and ensure perpetrators are held accountable.

They also urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the National Cohesion and Integration Commission and political parties to enforce codes of conduct and take action against hate speech, intimidation and discriminatory political rhetoric.

On electoral reforms, the groups expressed concern over proposed changes contained in the Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024, which they said could have implications for political party nominations, electoral dispute resolution, voter registration and the management of election results.

The bill was passed by the National Assembly with proposed amendments on October 22, 2026, before being referred back to the Senate for further consideration.

The organisations urged Parliament and the Senate to ensure the final legislation strengthens electoral transparency, accountability and inclusive political participation.

They particularly raised concerns over proposals to remove IEBC's role in conducting and supervising political party primaries upon request, saying political parties must be required to maintain fair, transparent and accessible nomination processes.

They further called for clear procedures governing electoral disputes and stronger coordination between the IEBC and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to ensure compliance with constitutional gender representation requirements.

The groups also called for accessible voter registration, public scrutiny of the voters' register and transparent management of election results, including maintaining livestreaming provisions under Section 39 of the Elections Act.

On campaign financing, the organisations expressed concern over the high cost of political campaigns, saying it placed women, young people and other underrepresented aspirants at a disadvantage.

They noted that although the IEBC gazetted the Election Campaign Financing Regulations, 2026, and proposed expenditure limits on August 7, their implementation remains affected by High Court conservatory orders.

The matter was discussed by the National Assembly Committee on Delegated Legislation on October 22, but substantive consideration was halted in light of the court orders.

The organisations called on the IEBC, Parliament and other relevant institutions to facilitate the resolution of outstanding legal issues and clarify the applicable campaign financing framework ahead of the 2027 polls.

They said reasonable and enforceable expenditure limits were necessary to promote transparency, accountability and fair political competition.

The groups cited Articles 27, 28, 29, 37 and 38 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality, human dignity, security of the person, peaceful assembly and political rights.

They reaffirmed their commitment to promoting women's political leadership through civic and electoral education, mentorship, peacebuilding and policy engagement.

The organisations also called on political leaders, aspirants and their supporters to reject violence and intimidation, saying political competition should be based on ideas, service and democratic choice rather than threats and physical confrontations.

"Safeguarding women in politics is a shared national responsibility and a fundamental requirement for peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in 2027," the statement said.