Their presence discourages peaceful assembly, intimidates voters, silences communities and weakens public confidence in democratic institutions. They create environments where citizens participate not because they feel free, but because they feel afraid.
Kenya cannot afford to normalise political violence carried out through criminal gangs or organised intimidation. Political competition must never depend on fear. Electoral violence creates additional barriers for persons with disabilities that are often overlooked during political discourse.
Kenya cannot afford to normalise political violence carried out through criminal gangs or organised intimidation. Political competition must never depend on fear. Electoral violence creates additional barriers for persons with disabilities that are often overlooked during political discourse.
The Constitution guarantees every Kenyan equal political participation. That guarantee must remain meaningful before, during and after elections. Older persons similarly face heightened vulnerability during periods of instability. Limited mobility, chronic health conditions and dependence on regular medical care make displacement particularly dangerous. Election-related disruptions can interrupt access to medication, healthcare services and essential social support systems. Minority and marginalised communities also remain disproportionately exposed whenever political tensions become linked to ethnicity, geography or historical inequalities.
The costs of violence therefore extend well beyond immediate physical harm. They weaken livelihoods, discourage investment, disrupt education, damage public infrastructure and undermine social cohesion long after elections have ended.
Within this framework, the National Gender and Equality Commission plays a critical constitutional role in monitoring elections from the perspective of equality and inclusion. Unlike election management bodies whose primary focus is administering elections, the Commission monitors whether Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are able to participate meaningfully throughout the electoral process. Its monitoring focuses on three critical areas.
First, candidate representation, including whether political parties comply with constitutional obligations such as the twothirds gender principle during nominations.
Second, voter accessibility, assessing whether polling stations, election materials and electoral processes remain accessible to persons with disabilities, older persons and other vulnerable groups.
Third, fair participation, ensuring that women, youth, persons with disabilities, minorities and other Special Interest Groups can campaign, vote, observe elections and serve as electoral officials without intimidation, violence or discrimination. These responsibilities become increasingly significant as political activity intensifies ahead of 2027. The Commission has already begun monitoring electoral preparedness in areas preparing for upcoming electoral processes. Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Purity Ngina recently conducted a monitoring exercise in Passenga Ward, Ol Kalou Constituency, to assess the preparedness of Special Interest Groups— particularly older persons—to participate effectively in the forthcoming by-election.
The exercise examined accessibility, voter preparedness and the practical barriers that may affect inclusive electoral participation. Such assessments provide valuable evidence for strengthening electoral preparedness before larger national campaigns commence.
In many pastoralist counties, political influence extends beyond formal institutions. Traditional councils of elders continue to shape leadership decisions, community dialogue and political consensus. Recognising this reality, the Commission, in partnership with the Horn of Africa Institute and supported by the Urgent Action Fund–Africa, has initiated dialogue aimed at expanding women's participation within these influential governance spaces.
