Nairobi: Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) in Uasin Gishu County have been trained on their critical role in promoting peace, unity, and democratic governance ahead of the 2027 General Election.
According to Kenya News Agency, the sensitization forum, held at the Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI) in Eldoret, was organized by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) as part of a broader electoral preparedness programme targeting key stakeholders in the electoral process.
Speaking during the training, ORPP Regional Coordinator for Northrift, Hassan Maloba, emphasized the importance of CSOs and FBOs in supporting electoral integrity and civic education. He stated that the week-long programme adopted an inclusive approach by engaging political party officials, women leaders, youth representatives, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and civil society and faith-based organizations on different days.
Maloba highlighted that the training has provided civil society organizations an opportunity to understand the preparedness of IEBC, ORPP, and other institutions towards the General Election. He stressed the need for partnership between ORPP and CSOs to ensure a peaceful election in 2027 and highlighted the role of CSOs in advocating for the rights of youths, PWDs, and women.
Participants are expected to disseminate the knowledge gained to their community members to ensure wider civic awareness. Maloba noted that the CBOs have community members who can be sensitized on their role in the coming election and the operations of political parties.
The ORPP sessions covered the legal and regulatory framework governing political parties in Kenya, including registration, monitoring, regulation, and compliance enforcement to uphold democratic principles. Participants were also briefed on the constitutional role of civil society and faith-based organizations in promoting good governance, integrity, transparency, accountability, and social justice.
They were reminded of their responsibilities in voter education, peacebuilding, and conflict prevention, particularly through inter-community and interfaith dialogue before, during, and after elections. Participants were cautioned against endorsing political candidates, accepting funding from political actors for civic education, or using their platforms for political mobilization.
The training also addressed the use of technology in elections, focusing on ethical applications of artificial intelligence (AI) for voter education, data analysis, communication, and real-time electoral monitoring. Participants were warned about the risks of AI-generated misinformation, including deepfakes and automated bots that can rapidly spread false political information. Studies indicate that 56 percent of Kenyans have encountered false political information online during election periods.
David Lelei, Programme Coordinator of the Uasin Gishu Civil Society Network, expressed gratitude to ORPP for partnering with the network to deliver the training, describing the role of civil society in elections as critical. He emphasized the importance of sensitizing the community to ensure a peaceful election and effective participation by all groups, including youth, PWDs, and marginalized communities.
Mustapha Simiyu, a CSO representative, underscored the importance of civic education in ensuring inclusive and peaceful elections. He highlighted the role of civil society in creating awareness and helping communities understand their rights and participation in elections.
