By James Okoth
Nyanza clergy have raised the alarm over the increasingly hostile political environment, warning that early campaigns, reckless political rhetoric and the exploitation of young people could plunge Kenya into unrest ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The clergy, drawn from different churches across the region, condemned the recent confrontation in Homa Bay, describing it as a worrying warning of what could unfold if political leaders and their supporters are allowed to continue with inflammatory politics.
Bishop Winnie Owiti of the Voice of Salvation and Healing Church, speaking under the umbrella of Nyanza Clergy representing 132 churches across the country, said the church was deeply concerned by the early political campaigns already taking shape in different parts of the country.
“We recognize the struggles leaders meet in their course of duty, but every leader must learn to work with the opposition,” Bishop Owiti said.
She warned that the political temperature was rising too early, creating conditions that could easily degenerate into violence once campaigns officially begin.
“The church is concerned with the early campaigns which have already sent a precursor of unrest ahead of the official campaign,” she said.
Owiti challenged political leaders to exercise restraint in their public utterances, warning that careless statements from politicians can easily be interpreted by supporters as a call to confrontation.
“We are asking our leaders to engage the public using responsible words. We are asking our leaders to be responsible in their speeches,” she said.
The bishop further called on leaders to embrace dialogue whenever political disagreements emerge, arguing that negotiation should remain the country’s first option rather than confrontation.
“We are asking this nation that dialogue must be the way forward if they can’t agree,” she said.
The clergy also wants the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to take a more active role in regulating political campaigns, saying political competition must be managed before it escalates into violence.
“We are calling for IEBC to take full control of the campaigns,” Owiti said, noting that the church was aware of the ongoing court process concerning the electoral body’s proposed role in controlling campaigns.
The Homa Bay incident, she added, should not be dismissed as an isolated confrontation.
“The Homa Bay fracas is just a glimpse of what is happening across the country,” she warned.
Owiti expressed particular concern over the involvement of young people in political confrontations, urging the government, churches and families to work together to prevent the youth from being turned into political weapons.
“We are asking and praying that the youth are empowered so that they are not used as goons,” she said.
Charles K’Ombo of Full Gospel Churches of Kenya delivered an equally stark warning, arguing that the behaviour of political leaders towards young people could offer voters a glimpse into the kind of leadership they would provide if elected.
“What leaders put the youth to do is a replica of who they are and they are likely to plunge the country into if elected,” K’Ombo said.
He challenged politicians to abandon the use of young people as instruments of political intimidation and instead invest in their economic empowerment.
“Leaders should instead empower the youth economically to be responsible citizens leading a responsible life,” he said.
K’Ombo warned that failure to confront political goonism before the election period could have devastating consequences for the country.
“If goonism is not tamed now, Kenya is in trouble,” he cautioned.
The clergy also called for a peaceful electoral process and urged Kenyans to place confidence in the new IEBC to provide strong leadership in managing the coming political contest.
Owiti said the church was praying that the commission would take the lead in ensuring that Kenyans choose their leaders through a peaceful and credible process.
“We pray that the new IEBC will be taking the front row, that the right people will be elected through a peaceful process,” she said.
Beyond politics, the clergy raised concern over the potential disruption of learning as the country approaches the national examination period.
Owiti appealed to the government, parents and the church to work together to ensure that candidates across the country are protected from political disruptions and allowed to sit their final examinations as scheduled.
“We are praying that the government, the parents and the church will be working together so that candidates across all schools in the country sit for their final examinations as scheduled,” she said.
The clergy’s message comes against a backdrop of growing political activity ahead of the 2027 elections, with politicians and their supporters already engaging in early mobilisation across different parts of the country.
For the church leaders, the warning is clear: Kenya cannot afford to wait until the official campaign period to address political incitement, youth mobilisation and confrontational politics.
In the strongest terms, Owiti condemned the Homa Bay incident and appealed for a national commitment to prevent a repeat of such confrontations.
“With the strongest terms possible, we condemn the Homa Bay incident and pray that the same never happens anywhere in the country,” she said.
The clergy now wants political leaders to lower the temperature, engage opponents through dialogue and ensure that the political ambitions of individuals do not become a source of instability for the wider country.
