Politics of violence: A definition of the 2027 election campaigns? The 2025 by-elections proof of concept?

I begin writing this paper by citing the law.

The Election Offences Act, which is the

primary legislation dealing with matters

of election offences, frowns upon violence

during the election period. It states that

a person should not directly or indirectly

threaten to inflict injury, damage property,

harm or cause harm to another person.

These offences are often linked to the

intention or the motive to induce or compel

a person to support a person or a particular

political party, forcing a person who is not

intending to vote to vote in a particular way.

Where a person commits these offenses,

he is liable upon conviction to a fine not

exceeding two million Kenyan shillings or a

prison term not exceeding six months.

This is a law that has been in the statute

book since 2016, perhaps influenced by

electoral violence in the past. Ten years

down the line, matters electoral violence

and campaigns marred with death and

violence are still part of Kenya’s political

fabric. Just a few days ago, news headlines

were filled with the chaos at the ACK

Witima Church in Othaya, where worshipers

were attacked by armed people, tear gas

was lobbed and a number of people were

injured. This was allegedly meant to prevent

Rigathi Gachagua from “campaigning” in

the church. As violent as this may be, the

2025 By-elections can only be described as

shocking events.

I am talking about the violence in Kasipul-

Kabondo by-elections that could not go away

even on election day leaving the Homa Bay

Town Member of Parliament injured. As if

not enough, there was massive violence in

Malava that led to people being injured,

vehicles torched and a lot of other properties

damaged. Magarini was not spared either;

there were reported tensions involving the

Kilifi South Member of Parliament. There

was also the Mbeere North contest that was

heated to the boiling point. Were the 2025

by-elections a precursor to the 2027 general

elections? Was it a proof of concept? If so,

then how ugly are things to get in 2027?

In this paper I desire to discuss violence

in Kenya’s political processes as I seek to

offer solutions on how to eradicate the said