Politicians accused of incitement and individuals behind politically motivated violence will face prosecution as Kenya heads towards the 2027 General Election, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Igonga has warned.
Speaking at the 38th National Council on the Administration of Justice (NCAJ) Conference in Mombasa, Igonga said his office would not hesitate to take legal action against leaders whose remarks fuel tension or individuals who orchestrate violence during political activities.
“We are working with the DCI and the NCIC. Those making inflammatory statements, regardless of which political side they belong to, will be brought to book,” Ingonga said.
He cautioned that the crackdown would extend beyond hate speech to include those recruiting, financing or participating in acts of political violence.
“Anyone found culpable with goonism will be dealt with. We only have one country, and that is Kenya, and we will not allow some characters with their own issues to influence other good Kenyans into a state of anarchy. We will not allow it.”
According to the DPP, prosecutors are already collaborating with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to process cases arising from inflammatory political utterances and election-related violence.
His remarks come as the NCIC continues investigating complaints against several political leaders accused of making inflammatory statements during recent public rallies.
The warning also follows President William Ruto’s recent directive to security agencies to intensify the fight against criminal gangs and individuals involved in politically instigated violence, insisting that lawlessness and destruction of property would not be tolerated.
With barely a year before the next General Election, justice sector institutions say preparations to safeguard the electoral process are already underway.
Chief Justice Martha Koome revealed that the Judiciary, through the National Council on the Administration of Justice, has begun activating election preparedness mechanisms to ensure institutions are ready to manage election-related disputes.
“Interagency partnership is essential for a peaceful and orderly election environment. NCAJ has agreed to reactivate all our committees on election preparedness. For the Judiciary, we are set to start training all judges, magistrates and judiciary staff,” Koome said.
She noted that early planning and coordination among justice sector agencies would help guarantee timely resolution of electoral disputes while preserving public confidence in the justice system.
The conference brought together key institutions within Kenya’s justice sector to review their preparedness for the 2027 General Election, with delegates emphasizing collaboration, accountability and strict enforcement of the law as the country enters another election cycle.
