A CALL TO ORDER AND SOBRIERTY
Preamble
The Nyanza Regional Consultation Forum was held here at the ACK St. Stephens, Kisumu on May 5 and 6, 2026. The forum brought together key actors from the six counties of the region namely Kisumu, Migori, Homa Bay, Siaya, Nyamira and Kisii who included religious leaders, civil society organizations, political actors, state institutions, and other representatives from the community. Convened at a critical moment marked by rising concerns over toxic political rhetoric, inadequate service delivery and declining public trust in institutions, the forum provided a platform for reflection and renewing collective commitment to strengthening peace, accountability, and inclusive participation ahead of the 2027 General Elections. During the forum, participants reflected from Micah 6:8:
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.
This scripture remind that leadership is a sacred responsibility requiring integrity, accountability, and a steadfast commitment to justice in serving the people. Following this reflection, we call for urgent action on the following:
1. Erosion of Political Culture and Governance
We are greatly concerned over rising political intolerance, increased polarization, and the erosion of issue-based politics. The growing dominance of slogan-driven and personality-centered politics continues to weaken democratic engagement and undermine accountability. Internal party wrangles and calls for political zoning risk deepening exclusion and triggering instability. Additionally, the increasing monetization of politics continues to entrench cycles of corruption, as elected officials prioritize recovering campaign expenditures over delivering effective public service. We call on political leaders to exercise responsible leadership, uphold integrity, and place the wellbeing of citizens above personal interests. We further urge the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission to take decisive action to break the cycle of corruption and enforce accountability.
2. Electoral Integrity and Preparedness
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The forum noted a worrying decline in public trust in political and electoral processes, threatening the credibility of the 2027 elections. Key concerns included electoral
offences such as voter bribery witnessed in recent by-elections, intimidation, hate speech, and the risk of chaotic party nominations due to weak internal party systems. Despite the reconstitution of the IEBC, public confidence remains low, with unresolved concerns around the voter register. High numbers of uncollected national identity cards and rising voter apathy further point to a deeper need that call for targeted civic education, improved access to registration, and deliberate efforts to rebuild trust. We call on IEBC to put in place measures that assure Kenyans of credible elections, expand voter registration opportunities, bar candidates involved in electoral offences, and strengthen voter education. We also urge young people to collect their national identity cards, register as voters, and actively participate in shaping the country’s democratic future.
3. Escalating Insecurity and Political Violence
Across the region, we have witnessed normalization of violence within political processes. The use of organized groups, vigilantes, and criminal gangs operating with impunity to disrupt events, intimidate opponents, and influence political and governance outcomes has been on the rise. If nothing is done, these trends could escalate into widespread electoral violence, undermining peace and stability in the region as we head to 2027 elections. We call on the National Police Service to take urgent, decisive and impartial action to dismantle these networks and hold perpetrators and their sponsors responsible. We call on our young people to resist manipulation by rogue politicians seeking to exploit you for their own interests, offering negligible rewards while exposing you to harm, arrest, and criminal charges that could have lasting consequences on your life and future.
4. Persistent Exclusion of Youths, Women and PWDs
The forum observed that the youth, women, and persons with disabilities suffer continued marginalization and exclusion from decision making spaces. While youth remain highly engaged during political mobilization, they are largely excluded from political party leadership and decision-making roles at all levels. Women continue to face systemic barriers, including financial constraints and lack of political goodwill in implementing the two-thirds gender principle. The PWDs continue to suffer discrimination, negative societal attitudes, and tokenistic inclusion. This forum affirms that these groups are rightful and equal members of our society and calls on political parties, national and county governments and electoral stakeholders to ensure their equitable participation in leadership, governance, and public life beyond symbolic representation.
5. Service Delivery Gaps and Socio-Economic Pressures
The forum expressed serious concerns over the state of service delivery by both the national and county governments in the region. In education, rising costs due to mandatory school requirements, exorbitant fees and low capitation are placing significant financial strain on families. In health, access to medicines and services remains inconsistent. The region further continues to suffer from floods impact, food insecurity, high rate of unemployment, and limited access to clean water. We have taken note of the weak legislative oversight, where national legislature and county assemblies are merely endorsing executive agendas instead of effectively holding them accountable for the use of public resources. The situation is worsened by the existence of brokers who control access to public services, further reflecting systemic inefficiencies and corruption. We call on both national and county governments to take deliberate action to remove these bottlenecks and honestly address existing service delivery gaps for the well-being of the people.
A key issue of concern in Ramula, Siaya is the unregulated gold mining that is causing serious environmental damage, health risks, and community tensions. Unsafe practices are polluting water, causing severe degradation of land, and harming residents, yet local communities get little benefit. We call for stronger government enforcement of regulations, proper oversight, and meaningful involvement of local leaders to ensure transparent, safe, and sustainable mining that protects livelihoods and community cohesion.
6. Commitment by Religious Leaders
As religious leaders gathered in this forum, and in recognition of the trust bestowed upon us by God and the communities we serve, we reaffirm our commitment to the welfare of the people. We shall continue to use our platforms to promote peace and cohesion, and to sustain our call for credible, free and fair elections that uphold stability in the country. We will work closely with all stakeholders of goodwill to advance civic education, constructive dialogue, and responsible citizenship. We will endeavor to uphold impartiality in political processes, and ensure our religious spaces are used to build rather than divide communities. At the same time, noting concerns about the politicization of religious spaces, we emphasize the need to preserve the integrity and neutrality of faith institutions as trusted platforms for peacebuilding, reconciliation, and social cohesion.
Conclusion
The Nyanza Regional Consultation Forum affirms that peaceful, credible, and inclusive elections require collective responsibility, strong and independent institutions, ethical leadership, and an empowered citizenry. As the 2027 General Elections approach, there is an urgent need to translate dialogue into action that restores public trust, strengthens accountability, upholds the rule of law, and promotes inclusive participation. Guided by justice, humility, and service, we reaffirm our commitment to peace, unity, and integrity in leadership, and to sustained collaboration for elections conducted in an environment of peace, integrity, and inclusivity.
God Bless Kenya, God Bless Nyanza Region
Signed on this May 6, 2026 at ACK St. Stephens, Kisumu
Rt. Rev. CS. JohnMark Haung’ Godia
The Regional Chairman
