By PEACE MUTHOKA
The chairperson of the National Federation of Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs), Stephen Cheboi, has urged Kenyans to reject politicians and political parties that promote tribalism, hatred and violence ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Cheboi called for issue-based campaigns and responsible leadership, saying voters should prioritise peace, national unity and candidates with sound policies and credible track records instead of allowing ethnic and political divisions to influence their choices.
He spoke in Nairobi on Tuesday during the launch of the People’s Agenda, dubbed “Wasemavyo Wakenya”, an initiative by the Slums Outreach Programme (SOP) aimed at providing citizens with a platform to express their views and priorities on governance and issues affecting their communities.
“Any political party, any leader who does not propagate peace, we can comfortably ask the people of Kenya to reject such a leader or such a political party,” Cheboi said.
He condemned incidents of violence witnessed in parts of the country and urged political parties, electoral institutions and other stakeholders to take deliberate measures to prevent unrest as political activities gather momentum ahead of the polls.
Cheboi cautioned Kenyans against being manipulated by politicians and their supporters to advance divisive agendas, urging citizens to remain vigilant and safeguard peace in their communities.
“As citizens, let us not be used. Let us remain vigilant at all times,” he said.
He also urged eligible Kenyans to register as voters and participate actively in the electoral process, saying citizens had a responsibility to make informed choices based on candidates’ manifestos, policies and leadership records rather than ethnic or political affiliations.
Cheboi further challenged political parties to provide aspirants with a fair opportunity to present their manifestos and compete for elective positions without intimidation or violence.
He said a democratic process should allow candidates to freely articulate their agendas and give voters an opportunity to assess competing ideas before making their choices.
The PBOs chairperson said public benefit organisations had a crucial role to play in promoting peace at the grassroots, noting that their nationwide presence placed them in a strong position to mobilise communities against hate speech, tribalism and election-related violence.
He urged the organisations to intensify civic education and community engagement to help Kenyans understand the importance of peaceful political participation and responsible leadership.
The People’s Agenda initiative seeks to strengthen civic participation, promote accountability and encourage peaceful public dialogue ahead of the 2027 General Election by giving citizens an opportunity to articulate their concerns and aspirations on governance and national development.
