Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli
By Peace Muthoka
NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Police Service is strengthening its preparations for the 2027 General Election, with Deputy Inspector General of the Administration Police Service Gilbert Masengeli warning politicians and other electoral actors against hate speech, tribalism and election-related violence.
Masengeli said police were developing security measures to cover the entire electoral cycle, from the period before the election through voting and the post-election phase, as authorities seek to prevent violence and protect the integrity of the electoral process.
Speaking on behalf of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja during a multi-agency engagement forum on the 2027 General Election at a Nairobi hotel on Tuesday, he called for early planning and cooperation among security agencies, political parties, civil society and other electoral stakeholders.
“The National Police Service has developed an election preparedness roadmap covering the period before, during and after the general election,” Masengeli said.
He said the roadmap prioritises professional and impartial policing, accountability, non-discrimination, respect for the rule of law and cooperation with electoral stakeholders.
The preparations will include training security personnel, coordinating operations with electoral laws and regulations, developing deployment and communication plans, and protecting electoral officials, infrastructure and processes.
Police will also use the roadmap to guide security arrangements during political party primaries, campaigns, election week and the period after the polls.
Masengeli said the service was drawing lessons from previous elections to strengthen its ability to identify threats and respond to emerging security challenges.
He disclosed that he had convened senior police commanders from across the country for a meeting scheduled for Thursday and Friday to review election readiness and assess security arrangements.
He said regular security assessments would be necessary to ensure that police operations remain responsive to changing threats throughout the election period.
Beyond security planning, Masengeli emphasised the importance of cooperation among state agencies, political parties, civil society organisations and other stakeholders in identifying early warning signs of violence and responding to potential human rights violations.
He warned that while police would work with other institutions to promote peaceful political competition, those who break the law would face enforcement action.
“The National Police Service will continue to enforce all laws of the land as mandated by the Constitution,” he said.
The forum comes as electoral stakeholders intensify preparations for the 2027 General Election, with concerns over political violence, human rights violations and electoral malpractice placing renewed emphasis on prevention, accountability and peaceful competition.
The engagement seeks to strengthen accountability among electoral actors, encourage political parties to participate in peace initiatives and establish a framework for coordinated responses to human rights violations.
It follows the launch of the National Cohesion and Integration Commission’s (NCIC) Elections Bila Noma peace campaign on August 25, 2026, which aims to mobilise Kenyans behind a peaceful electoral process.
The initiative builds on the Amani National Conference held on September 14 and 15, 2026, and seeks to encourage political parties and other electoral actors to embrace peaceful competition ahead of the polls.
The forum was organised by the NCIC, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), the Political Parties Liaison Committee (PPLC) and the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK), bringing together institutions working to promote peaceful elections and protect the rights of Kenyans.
