Stakeholders at a two-day peace and leadership summit in Kisumu have adopted a six-point roadmap to strengthen security, promote inclusive governance and prevent violence ahead of Kenya’s 2027 general election.
Kisumu County Commissioner Ramadhan Mwabudzo announced the resolutions at the close of the summit over the weekend, saying delegates had committed to investing in peacebuilding, strengthening early warning and response systems, and promoting inclusive leadership.
The resolutions also call for action to counter misinformation, hate speech and digital threats, expand economic inclusion and alternative livelihoods, and protect the safety and psychosocial well-being of peace actors.
The summit brought together representatives of national and county governments, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) and National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC).
Others include Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA), security agencies, civil society, youth and women’s groups, religious organisations and the media.
Mwabudzo said unresolved grievances, political intolerance, organised criminal violence and declining public confidence in institutions responsible for electoral justice posed potential threats to stability as the country approaches the 2027 polls.
Stephen Kadenyo, executive director of Pamoja for Transformation Trust, said the summit provided a platform for stakeholders from government, the private sector, religious organisations, youth groups and independent institutions to examine their constitutional and individual responsibilities in promoting peace.
“The purpose of this particular summit was to give an opportunity for the different stakeholders to collectively reflect on our constitutional and individual responsibilities and how best we can promote a sustainable, peaceful and secure county and also the region,” Kadenyo said.
He said Kisumu’s proximity to neighbouring regions and an international border made peacebuilding efforts important beyond the county.
Kadenyo pledged his organisation’s support for implementing the resolutions and thanked the Office of the County Commissioner, Act Change Transform and the Royal Danish Embassy in Kenya for supporting the summit.
Delegates also agreed to establish a multi-stakeholder coordination forum to periodically review implementation of the resolutions, monitor agreed actions and assess progress.
The summit adopted the rallying call, “United for peace, inclusive for progress.”
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