Women Leaders Raise Alarm Over Electoral Violence, High Cost of Politics Ahead of Kenya’s 2027 Elections

By Gedion Nzyoki - 

Nairobi, Kenya | October 29, 2026 — Women leaders, political aspirants and peace actors have raised concerns over electoral reforms, rising cases of violence against women in politics and the high cost of campaigns ahead of Kenya’s 2027 General Election.

Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi on Thursday afternoon, the leaders, led by Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF) President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jennifer Riria, called for urgent measures to curb electoral violence, strengthen electoral accountability and safeguard peaceful, credible and inclusive elections.

The Democracy Trust Fund (DTF) members, women peace actors and political aspirants from across the country warned that intimidation, gender-based harassment, financial barriers and uncertainty surrounding electoral regulations could undermine the ability of women and young people to compete fairly for elective positions.

"We, as women leaders and peace actors of this country, firmly reject the normalization of political violence, intimidation and gender-based harassment as part of electoral competition. Physical attacks, threats, sexual harassment, discriminatory rhetoric, hate speech and technology-facilitated abuse undermine women's constitutional rights, political participation and democratic representation," Dr. Jennifer Riria said.

The groups called on Parliament, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), security agencies, political parties and other relevant institutions to take concrete steps to protect democratic participation as the country prepares for the 2027 polls.

Women Leaders Question Proposed Electoral Reforms

The organisations expressed concern over the Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024, which they said raises critical questions about political party primaries, electoral dispute resolution, voter registration, the recall of Members of Parliament and the livestreaming 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 in accordance with Article 110(4) of the Constitution.

The leaders maintained that electoral reforms should strengthen transparency, accountability and inclusive political participation rather than create uncertainty ahead of the 2027 General Election.

They raised concerns about proposed changes to the IEBC’s role in political party primaries, calling for safeguards to ensure fair nominations, accessible dispute resolution mechanisms and protection against intimidation.

The organisations also urged electoral authorities to strengthen voter registration, improve public access to the voters’ register and enhance transparency in election results management. They singled out the livestreaming of election results as a measure that could boost public confidence in the electoral process.

“In a country with a significant trust deficit, legislatures should strengthen, not weaken, trust, especially in the electoral process,” Riria stated.

The groups further called on the IEBC and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) to clarify their respective responsibilities in preparing, submitting, verifying and approving political party nomination lists.

They said clear procedures were necessary to ensure compliance with constitutional gender representation requirements and to prevent disputes that could undermine the participation of women in elective politics.

Groups Raise Alarm Over Attacks on Women Leaders in Six Counties

The organisations also raised concerns over reported incidents of violence, harassment and inflammatory political rhetoric in Kisii, Baringo, Kisumu, Meru, Nairobi and Homa Bay counties.

Among the cases cited was that of Dr. July Nyamao in Kisii County, who reportedly faced heckling, public humiliation and physical attacks during a political engagement.

In Kisumu County, Woman Representative aspirant Linda Ogweno reportedly came under attack during a funeral gathering in Nyamasaria on October 20, 2026.

The groups also cited reports of disrupted political gatherings, online harassment and gender-based threats in Nairobi, as well as incidents of political violence in Homa Bay in August 2026.

They warned that such incidents threatened the safety of women seeking elective office and undermined fair political competition, democratic representation and the right to participate freely in political activities.

The organisations called on the National Police Service (NPS), the IEBC and county security committees to identify electoral hotspots and strengthen gender-responsive security measures to protect women leaders and political aspirants.

They also urged the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and other justice institutions to ensure prompt and impartial investigations into reported attacks and hold those found responsible accountable.

Political parties and relevant institutions were further urged to enforce codes of conduct, address hate speech and gender-based intimidation, and promote peaceful, issue-based political competition.

The groups stressed that political differences should be resolved through democratic processes rather than violence, threats or harassment.

High Campaign Costs Threaten Inclusive Political Participation

The organisations warned that the high cost of political campaigns could further disadvantage women, young people and other underrepresented groups seeking elective positions in 2027.

They argued that financial barriers could limit access to political competition, particularly for aspirants who lack the resources required to finance campaigns and navigate the electoral process.

The groups called on Parliament and the IEBC to address legal uncertainties surrounding campaign financing regulations and expenditure limits, whose implementation remains constrained by High Court orders.

They said clear and enforceable campaign financing rules were necessary to promote a level playing field, improve electoral accountability and prevent financial barriers from excluding qualified candidates.

The organisations maintained that addressing the cost of politics was essential to ensuring that electoral competition was determined by candidates’ ideas, leadership abilities and commitment to public service rather than their financial resources.

Women Leaders Reaffirm Commitment to Peaceful Elections

The leaders reaffirmed their commitment to advancing women’s political leadership, civic and electoral education, mentorship, peacebuilding and policy engagement ahead of the 2027 General Election.

They pledged to continue working with relevant institutions and stakeholders to strengthen electoral accountability, safeguard political rights and support peaceful participation throughout the electoral process.

The organisations also expressed solidarity with women affected by political violence, regardless of their political affiliation, insisting that their safety and dignity must be protected.

They maintained that preventing political violence, addressing gender-based intimidation and promoting fair access to elective positions would be critical to delivering peaceful, credible and inclusive elections in 2027.