Meru, Kenya — Clerics from the Upper Eastern region have cautioned political leaders against engaging in early campaigns, warning that the premature political activity is distracting government institutions from addressing the urgent socio-economic challenges facing Kenyans.
The National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) leaders drawn from Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Isiolo, and Marsabit counties said the country has been thrown into campaign mode far too early, even though the next General Election is more than two years away.
Speaking during a two-day delegates’ assembly at Gitoro Pastoral Centre in Meru County, NCCK Upper Eastern regional chairperson Nicholas Mutwiri urged leaders to refocus their energy on governance and service delivery instead of political positioning.
“We are warning all political leaders to stop early campaigns. Kenyans are suffering due to the high cost of living, unemployment, and heavy taxes. It is time to work, not to campaign,” Mutwiri said.
The clerics called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to take firm action against politicians engaging in premature campaigns, incitement, and hate speech—activities they said risk heightening tensions ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Mutwiri noted that an inquiry conducted by NCCK in the region revealed worsening living standards, with 69 percent of residents reporting they feel poorer than they were a year ago, citing poor economic policies and neglect by leaders at both national and county levels.
“Instead of listening to the cries of Kenyans, leaders are busy politicking. This must stop,” he added.
The council urged all government officials, civil servants, and elected leaders to prioritise service delivery, job creation, and lowering the cost of living, insisting that divisive politics is deepening public frustration across the region.
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