The government has issued a raft of warnings against hate speech, voter bribery and election-related violence ahead of Thursday's Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, signalling heightened vigilance as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a multi-agency briefing convened by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Tuesday, heads of key constitutional commissions and security agencies said elaborate measures had been put in place to safeguard the integrity of the poll, with offenders warned of swift legal action.
National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) Chairperson Kepha Nyamweya Omae cautioned politicians against exploiting ethnic divisions during campaigns.
"Hate speech and ethnic contempt are offences under the law, attracting penalties of up to Sh1 million in fines or imprisonment for up to five years," Bishop Omae said.
He urged political leaders, candidates and supporters to conduct peaceful campaigns and promote dialogue and national unity during the by-election.
The warning came as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) cautioned candidates against using money to influence voters.
EACC Director of Preventive Services Vincent Okong'o said the commission would investigate and prosecute anyone found engaging in voter bribery or other electoral malpractices.
"Any person involved in voter bribery or other electoral malpractices will be investigated and prosecuted in accordance with the law," he said, urging members of the public to report corruption-related incidents through the commission's toll-free hotline.
The Independent Policing Oversight Authority (IPOA) said it had deployed officers across the constituency to monitor police conduct during the exercise.
IPOA Commissioner Ken Williams Nyakomitah said the authority would ensure accountability among security officers and investigate complaints arising during the poll.
He encouraged members of the public and the media to report any alleged misconduct by police officers through IPOA's toll-free line.
Inspector-General of Police Douglas Kanja Kirocho said more than 1,000 police officers had been deployed to secure the constituency's 114 polling stations, with specialised units placed on standby.
"We have put in place adequate security measures across Ol Kalou to guarantee a free, secure and fair electoral process," Mr Kanja said.
He also appealed to young people not to allow themselves to be used by politicians to disrupt the voting exercise.
The by-election will be the first to be conducted by the newly reconstituted IEBC since its commissioners took office last week after nearly two years of vacancies that slowed key electoral activities.
First test for new IEBC
Beyond filling the parliamentary seat, the Ol Kalou contest is widely viewed as the first operational test for the new Commission and a rehearsal for the 2027 General Election.
The IEBC has in recent weeks intensified voter education, stakeholder engagement and logistical preparations, while assuring the public that it is ready to deliver a credible poll.
Last week, after taking the oath of office, IEBC Chairperson Erastus Edung Ethekon pledged that the Commission would discharge its constitutional mandate independently and without fear or favour.
"We are fully aware of the enormous responsibility entrusted to us by the Constitution and the people of Kenya. We undertake to discharge our mandate independently, impartially and in strict fidelity to the Constitution and the law," Mr Ethekon said.
He also appealed to political leaders to uphold peace and comply with electoral laws.
"The credibility of elections is a shared responsibility. We call upon political parties, candidates and all stakeholders to respect the rule of law and conduct themselves in a manner that promotes peaceful, free and fair elections."
The renewed calls for restraint come against the backdrop of Kenya's history of election-related violence and growing concern over inflammatory political rhetoric as campaigns for the 2027 General Election begin to gather momentum.
Lessons from the past
Kenya has progressively strengthened coordination among institutions charged with protecting the electoral process following recommendations made after previous elections.
The IEBC, NCIC, EACC, IPOA and the National Police Service now work jointly to curb electoral offences, including hate speech, voter bribery, abuse of state resources and excessive use of force by security agencies.
In previous election cycles, election observer missions repeatedly faulted weak enforcement of electoral laws, arguing that failure to hold politicians accountable fuelled impunity and undermined public confidence in the electoral process.
The IEBC has insisted that the Ol Kalou by-election will be conducted under strict enforcement of electoral laws, with agencies maintaining that no individual—regardless of political status—will be spared if found culpable of electoral offences.
Experts believe the by-election is therefore expected to serve not only as a contest for parliamentary representation but also as an early indicator of how firmly the reconstituted electoral commission and other state agencies intend to enforce the law ahead of the 2027 General Election.
