National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) Commissioner Wakili Jerusah Muathime attended the second day of the Amani Conference, where she joined other stakeholders in advancing conversations on peace, political responsibility and a violence-free 2027 General Election.
Muathime had the honour of presenting the Political Decency, Peace and Accountability Charter for Political Parties, an important component of the NCIC’s roadmap towards peaceful elections.
At the heart of the Charter is a simple message: political leaders have an enormous influence on the country, and the words spoken on campaign platforms can travel far beyond the microphone. They can be repeated by supporters, amplified on social media and, in some cases, translated into actions on the ground.
The Charter therefore calls on political parties to promote issue-based politics, reject hate speech, ethnic incitement, political intolerance and organised violence, while respecting every candidate and party’s right to campaign freely.
It further urges political actors to use digital platforms responsibly, resolve disputes through lawful institutions and hold their own members accountable whenever they cross the line.
For ordinary Kenyans, the call for political decency carries a deeply personal meaning. Elections come and go, but it is citizens who live with the consequences when political competition turns violent—families can be separated, businesses disrupted and communities divided.
The Charter also recognises that constitutional freedoms come with responsibilities. The right to protest remains protected, but it does not extend to assaulting others, destroying property or using violence to settle political grievances.
Importantly, the Charter is voluntary. Its significance, however, lies in the commitment it seeks to inspire among political parties and leaders—to lead by example and demonstrate that political competition can be vigorous without becoming violent, and passionate without stripping opponents of their dignity.
The initiative comes as Kenya looks ahead to the 2027 General Election, with the NCIC seeking greater commitment from political actors to make peace and responsible leadership central to the electoral process.
The Charter ultimately presents a message of shared ownership of the country: “Kenya ni yetu sisi wote.” No political party, leader or community owns Kenya more than another.
The Amani Conference has consequently placed political leaders and parties at the centre of a national conversation on what responsible political competition should look like before, during and after the 2027 elections.
