Civil society organisations (CSOs) from four counties have urged the government to protect civic space, promote accountability and embrace dialogue as Kenya moves towards the 2027 General Election.
The appeal was made during a regional accountability meeting in Kisumu that brought together about 100 representatives from civil society organisations in Kisumu, Kakamega, Siaya and Homa Bay.
Participants reviewed accountability initiatives undertaken over the past three years and discussed challenges facing the sector.
The Kisumu County Accountability Alliance Coordinator, Kennedy Anjejo, said civil society organisations were partners in development rather than opponents of government, arguing that their work supports improved public services and amplifies the concerns of ordinary citizens.
“We take note of the current state of affairs in the country, where we have seen high-handedness of government targeting civil society actors who are championing issues about accountability,” he said.
Anjejo said civic groups across the country had reported intimidation while carrying out accountability work and called on the authorities to safeguard democratic freedoms.
He said civil society organisations complement government efforts by helping to ensure services reach communities and by promoting transparency in the use of public resources.
“Whatever work we are doing is work that we are doing in support of what the government is doing. The goal of civil society is to ensure that service delivery reaches the last mile and benefits the ordinary citizen,” he said.
Anjejo warned against allowing political campaigns ahead of the 2027 election to overshadow the need for accountability and good governance.
He urged both leaders and citizens to remain committed to transparency throughout the election period.
He also called for greater cooperation between government, the private sector and non-state actors, saying national development required contributions from all sectors of society.
“Nation building needs everybody. The moment you look at civil society members and non-state actors as enemies in this struggle, then you are missing the point,” he said.
The organisations also expressed concern over what they described as growing political intolerance and incidents of violence linked to political activities in different parts of the country.
Referring to recent disturbances reported in Kisumu and Trans Nzoia, Anjejo appealed for peaceful political engagement and respect for differing opinions.
The meeting also raised concerns about governance, university funding, healthcare and public participation in decision-making.
Participants said civil society organisations have expertise that could help address national challenges if they are included in policy discussions.
Anjejo urged the government to embrace dialogue rather than confrontation, saying criticism and public oversight should be viewed as part of strengthening democratic governance.
“Civil society also has opinions about health, education and many other issues affecting the country. They need to be invited to the table so they can contribute meaningfully to national development,” he said.
Participants also warned against the disruption of political meetings through violence or organised groups, saying such incidents could undermine peaceful political competition ahead of the next election.
Calling for restraint, Anjejo appealed to supporters of political leaders to reject violence and allow all candidates to campaign freely.
“As civil society members, we plead for tolerance. If you disagree with what a candidate is saying, please stay away instead of disrupting meetings. Let’s give everybody space to speak,” he said.
The organisations said they would continue working with communities, public institutions and other stakeholders to promote accountability, transparency and citizen participation.
They said protecting civic space and encouraging constructive dialogue would be essential to ensuring a peaceful and inclusive democratic process as Kenya prepares for the 2027 General Election.
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