President William Ruto on Tuesday pledged that Kenya’s 2027 General Election will be free, fair and peaceful, while warning politicians against intimidation, ethnic mobilisation and inflammatory rhetoric that could undermine national unity as political activity gathers pace ahead of the vote.
Speaking during an engagement with village elders at State House in Nairobi, Ruto said every Kenyan must be allowed to exercise their constitutional right to vote for the candidate of their choice without fear, coercion or interference.
He said his administration would safeguard the integrity of the electoral process and would not tolerate actions that threaten public safety or democratic participation.
“The General Election will be free and fair. We will not allow anyone to put the lives of other Kenyans at risk,” Ruto said.
He said attempts to influence voters through threats, intimidation or appeals to ethnic divisions had no place in Kenya’s democracy. He urged political leaders to conduct campaigns responsibly and within the framework of the Constitution.
“Vitisho, kushurutisha watu, kujaribu kuleta ukabila na kugawanya wananchi haitakubalika katika taifa letu la Kenya,” Ruto said, adding that threats, coercion and attempts to promote tribalism and divide Kenyans would not be accepted.
Kenya has experienced periods of election-related violence in previous electoral cycles, making calls for peaceful campaigns a recurring theme as political competition intensifies.
Ruto said the country’s democratic gains should be protected by ensuring all citizens can participate freely in the electoral process without intimidation.
Addressing village elders, the president appealed to community leaders to help preserve peace at the grassroots level by encouraging political tolerance and ensuring campaigns are conducted in accordance with the law.
“Nyinyi kama wazee pale vijijini mtusaidie kuhakikisha ya kwamba zote tunaendesha mambo yetu kisheria na chini ya Katiba ndiyo Kenya iweze kuenda mbele kama nchi tunayojivunia,” he said.
The remarks translate as: “As elders in your villages, help us ensure that everyone conducts their affairs in accordance with the law and the Constitution so that Kenya can move forward as a nation we are proud of.”
Ruto’s comments come as political parties and rival leaders increasingly step up mobilisation ahead of the 2027 General Election, with alliances beginning to take shape and competition for support expected to intensify over the coming months.
Although the president did not name any individual, his remarks appeared aimed at opposition figures whom government allies have accused of using ethnic-based political messaging.
The president said political competition should strengthen, rather than weaken, the country’s democratic institutions, adding that no political ambition should come at the expense of national stability or social cohesion.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, who attended the meeting, echoed the president’s appeal for peaceful politics and urged village elders to play a greater role in preventing conflict within their communities.
“I request you, our elders, to be the cornerstone of peace and shun leaders who are preaching politics of division and tribalism,” Murkomen said.
Murkomen said elders remain influential in resolving local disputes, promoting dialogue and discouraging inflammatory political rhetoric before it escalates into violence.
He urged communities to reject leaders who exploit ethnic differences for political gain and instead support those committed to peaceful coexistence and national unity.
Kenya’s Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to make political choices freely, while electoral laws provide legal mechanisms for resolving disputes arising from the election process.
Ruto said his government would continue working with state institutions to maintain a peaceful political environment and called on leaders across the political divide to respect the law, protect democratic freedoms and avoid actions that could incite violence or undermine national cohesion as the country prepares for the 2027 polls.
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