Presidential aspirant Eliud Owalo/ HANDOUT
Presidential aspirant Eliud Owalo has condemned the rising
cases of political violence and intimidation in the country.
The former ICT Cabinet Secretary warned that the country
risks sliding back into an era in which political differences are settled by
force rather than by ideas.
Owalo said the violence witnessed during the recent Ol Kalou
by-election and reported attacks against political actors in Homa Bay were a
worrying sign of growing intolerance ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“Politics must be a contest of ideas, policies and
leadership—not a contest of violence,” Owalo said in a statement on Wednesday.
He called on political leaders and their supporters to
reject the use of gangs and intimidation to silence opponents, saying no part
of the country should be treated as the exclusive territory of a particular
party or politician.
“Homa Bay is Kenya. Ol Kalou is Kenya. Nairobi is Kenya.
Every part of Kenya belongs equally to every Kenyan,” he said.
Owalo said the recruitment of young people to participate in
political violence was particularly disturbing, arguing that the youth should
be empowered to build their future rather than being used as political “hired
muscle”.
“It is particularly disheartening that young Kenyans, who
should be at the forefront of building the country’s future, are sometimes
recruited, mobilised and reportedly paid by political actors to perpetrate
violence against fellow citizens,” he said.
“Our youth should never be reduced to instruments of
political violence or hired muscle for political interests.”
Owalo said the Constitution guarantees Kenyans the right to
participate in political activities regardless of their political affiliation,
county of origin or candidate of choice.
He cited Articles 37 and 38, which protect the rights to
peaceful assembly, demonstrations, picketing, political participation and
campaigning.
He also cited Article 39, which guarantees freedom of
movement, arguing that no Kenyan should be blocked from entering or
participating in a political meeting because of their political loyalties.
“The Constitution does not recognise political territories
where one group of Kenyans is entitled to campaign while another is prohibited
from doing so,” he said.
Owalo urged the National Police Service and investigative
and prosecutorial agencies to investigate political violence impartially and
prosecute those found responsible.
He said accountability should extend beyond those physically
involved in attacks to individuals who organise, finance, transport, arm or
incite perpetrators.
“Those who organise, finance, transport, arm, incite or
participate in political violence must be held individually accountable,
irrespective of their political connections or status,” he said.
He also warned against selective condemnation of violence,
saying the law should protect government supporters and opposition politicians
equally.
“If we genuinely believe in constitutional democracy, then
the same standards must apply whether the victim is a government supporter, an
opposition supporter, a presidential candidate, an ordinary citizen, a
journalist or a member of the security services,” Owalo said.
With the 2027 elections approaching, Owalo called for
restraint among political leaders and their supporters, saying Kenyans should
be free to attend rallies, listen to competing political messages and campaign
without fear.
“Our democracy cannot be credible if citizens have to seek
permission from political actors before exercising rights guaranteed to them by
the Constitution,” he said.
Owalo said Kenya’s future depended on rejecting political
violence and ensuring that power changed hands through the ballot.
“Let us defend the Constitution. Let us defend the right of
every Kenyan to participate freely in our democracy. Let us defend the sanctity
of the ballot—and, above all, let us refuse to make violence the language of
Kenyan politics,” he said.
