Special Interest Groups in Meru, Kisii and Nyamira counties have demanded that political parties finance the campaigns of their aspirants and issue nomination certificates in seats those aspirants can win.

The demand is carried in the Declaration by Special Interest Groups on Inclusive Electoral Preparations and Participation ahead of the 2027 General Election, adopted in each of the three counties at the close of dialogues convened by the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) under Article 59 of the Constitution. 

The declaration was adopted in five category instruments covering women, youth, older members of society, persons with disabilities, and minority and marginalised communities. Each is signed by representatives of the category and witnessed for the Commission.

All five record that since 2013 the number of members of the category elected and nominated to represent the county in the National Parliament, the Senate and the County Assembly has been very few. All five record concern that violence, intimidation, discrimination, stereotyping and inaccessible information keep their members out of the electoral process.

WHAT WAS PLEDGED 

Signatories commit to register in large numbers and to mobilise members to register as voters, to mobilise young people who have attained the age of 18 to acquire national identity cards and use them to register, to join political parties of their choice and exercise full rights as members, and to demand full inclusion in party governance and management.

 They commit to field higher numbers of candidates for the seats available in 2027, to promote peace before, during and after the elections, and to monitor the conduct of the elections and hold to account the agencies responsible for free, fair and peaceful elections.

The older members’ instrument commits elders to use their standing to influence higher numbers of youth, women, persons with disabilities and marginalised people to contest, and to steer peace initiatives and reconciliation programmes before, during and after the elections.

We are concerned that gender-based violence, intimidation, stereotyping and inaccessible information keep our members out of the electoral process.” Declaration by Special Interest Groups on Inclusive Electoral Preparations and Participation ahead of the 2027 General Election, women’s instrument.

The declaration requires political parties to support the campaigns of Special Interest Group aspirants with financing, to reduce the fees required for nominations, and to accord those aspirants nomination certificates in election areas where they can easily win. 

The instruments for persons with disabilities and for minority and marginalised communities record that those groups are entitled to reserved seats in Parliament and County Assemblies, and ask political parties to nominate them deliberately for the seats available. 

The instruments record the electoral timetable issued by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission as binding on everyone in the conduct of the 2027 General Election

Each instrument carries a note that the Commission is an independent constitutional commission, that the declaration is for public education and accountability, and that the Commission does not support, endorse or oppose any political party, candidate or aspirant. 

The Commission will convene a review of the commitments before 6 November 2026 and will report publicly on what was committed.