NAIROBI, Kenya — Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has assured development partners and the international community that Kenya will hold the 2027 General Election on schedule and in accordance with the Constitution and electoral laws.
Kindiki said the government was committed to democracy, the rule of law and a credible electoral process, urging development partners interested in supporting democracy and elections to work through established channels.
“We want to assure the world that Kenya will have free, fair and verifiable elections next year,” Kindiki said.
He spoke on Wednesday while co-chairing the 15th Development Partnership Forum (DPF) at the Deputy President’s Official Residence in Karen, Nairobi. The forum is a high-level meeting between the government and development partners and was held on September 16, 2026.
Kindiki Rules Out Election Shortcuts
Kindiki said the 2027 election would be held within the timelines provided by law and that there would be no compromise on its credibility.
“The election will be held on schedule and will be fair and without any shortcuts because we pride ourselves as a democratic nation that believes in the rule of law, democracy, human rights and holding periodic elections,” he said.
The Deputy President encouraged development partners seeking to participate in Kenya’s electoral space to do so through formal procedures.
He cited supporting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), civil society organisations and accredited election observation initiatives as some of the available channels.
Kenya’s government has previously made similar commitments on the 2027 election. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said earlier this month that preparations were being undertaken for the August 10, 2027 poll and called for respect for the independence of the IEBC.
Mudavadi Reaffirms Election Commitment
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who attended the forum, also said Kenya would maintain its tradition of holding elections within the constitutional timetable.
“We have had a tradition of ensuring our elections are held on schedule. We do not intend to breach the tradition we have already established. We will have elections on schedule and will be constitutional,” Mudavadi said.
The forum was co-chaired by Kindiki and United Nations Resident Coordinator Garry Conille, alongside Germany’s Ambassador to Kenya Sebastian Groth.
Cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, representatives of international and humanitarian organisations, independent offices and commissions, and other development partners also attended.
Kindiki Invites Partners to Support Electoral Process
Kindiki said Kenya’s development partners could contribute to the electoral process provided they operated within the established legal and institutional framework.
He said there would be no compromise on the credibility of the election and described Kenya as a country with a longstanding tradition of democratic engagement.
“Kenya is a very vibrant democracy. We take a lot of pride in our democratic credentials,” Kindiki said.
The remarks come as political parties and electoral institutions intensify preparations for the 2027 General Election.
Government Seeks Support Against El Niño Rains
Beyond elections, Kindiki asked development partners to support preparations for forecast El Niño rains expected from October.
He said the government had established a multi-agency preparedness team and would engage development partners on ways of strengthening mitigation measures.
“I call upon the development partners to see whether they can re-programme some of their resources around humanitarian and resilience programmes to help us converge efforts on preparations to mitigate loss and damage,” he said.
The government has previously announced measures to prepare for climate-related risks, including strengthening early-warning and response systems.
Forum Focuses on Youth Employment
The 15th Development Partnership Forum focused on youth and development, with discussions on how government and development partners can expand opportunities for young people.
Kindiki said partnerships should translate into tangible opportunities through employment, entrepreneurship, skills development, access to finance, innovation and participation in the digital economy.
He cited government programmes including National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA), Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET), Kazi Kwa Ground, Kazi Mtandaoni and Kazi Majuu as initiatives intended to expand employment and enterprise opportunities.
“We are advancing an employment strategy designed to equip young people with relevant skills, expand access to jobs and enterprise opportunities, and position them to participate meaningfully in Kenya’s economic transformation,” he said.
The Development Partnership Forum is held twice a year and brings together government officials, diplomatic missions and development partners to discuss Kenya’s development priorities.
