Fair Electoral Reforms, Zero Violence Against Women: ENAF and DTF Issue Joint Call Ahead of 2027 Elections

Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF), the Democracy Trust Fund (DTF), alongside Women Peace Actors and women leaders across Kenya, issued an urgent joint statement demanding fair electoral amendments and an immediate end to political violence targeting women.

As the country prepares for the 2027 General Elections, the coalition highlighted two critical threats to inclusive democratic participation: the implications of the Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024, and a disturbing surge in early electoral violence.

Safeguarding Transparency in Electoral Reforms

The coalition expressed deep concern over the Elections (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 2024, which is currently before the Senate. The proposed amendments raise critical questions regarding political party primaries, dispute resolution, public access to the voter register, and the livestreaming of election results. ENAF and DTF stressed that any legislative changes must strengthen safeguards for fair political competition, demanding transparent party nominations, clear legal frameworks for dispute resolution between the IEBC and the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal, and accessible voter registration.

Zero Tolerance for Electoral Violence

The statement strongly condemned the normalization of violence, intimidation, and gender-based harassment. The coalition cited alarming evidence from the 2022 elections, where FIDA Kenya documented 1,746 cases of election-related sexual and gender-based violence, with verbal abuse and hate speech accounting for 54% of incidents and cyberbullying for 23%.

Recent incidents across Kisii, Baringo, Kisumu, Meru, Nairobi, and Homa Bay counties—including reported physical attacks, public heckling, and property damage targeting women aspirants—demonstrate that these risks remain an urgent threat well ahead of the formal election period.

A Unified Call to Action

The coalition outlined a priority action plan for key national institutions:

Security and Protection: The National Police Service (NPS) and IEBC must map electoral hotspots and ensure prompt responses to threats against women.
Accountability: The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) must ensure prompt, impartial investigations into reported violence.
Responsible Conduct: The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) must strictly enforce codes of conduct to curb hate speech and intimidation.

Safeguarding women in politics is a shared national responsibility. ENAF and DTF remain committed to engaging institutions and stakeholders to ensure the 2027 elections are peaceful, credible, and truly inclusive.

(Read the full Joint Press Statement here)

Women Mediation Network of Kenya Reconstitutes Ahead of 2027 to Safeguard Peace and Inclusion

21 October, 2026 ENAF Communications

Women Mediation Network of Kenya Reconstitutes Ahead of 2027 to Safeguard Peace and Inclusion

Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF), in partnership with the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office (UNRCO), hosted women mediators to initiate the revitalization of the Women Mediation Network of Kenya (WMN-K) for the 2027 electoral cycle. The high-level convening brought together a powerful coalition of institutions and groups, including the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Kenya Chapter, the National Peace and Mediation Team (NPMT), the Uwiano Platform for Peace, Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO), retired judges, Mothers of the Nation, Young Mediators, disability rights advocates, and county women peace champions. Reflecting on the origins of the Network, participants noted how women previously organized during the 2022 general elections to build peace networks across hotspot counties, established a trusted three-tiered structure including a steering committee and a technical team chaired by Prof. Maria Nzomo, developed a women’s mediation guide with UN support, and lobbied key electoral duty bearers.

ENAF’s Chief of Party, Sarah Muhoya, giving her remarks on behalf of the President/CEO, Dr. Jennifer Riria.

Delivering the framing remarks on behalf of ENAF President and CEO Dr. Jennifer Riria, ENAF Chief of Party Sarah Muhoya emphasized that the network must move beyond starting and stopping to focus on true sustainability between general elections. Stressing that women must take active ownership of their role in national stability, she noted: “This is our country, and we must own this initiative, organize early, and play our rightful role in shaping society.” Adding profound depth to the session, Dr. Kimairis Toogood, Peace and Development Advisor at the UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, affirmed the UN family’s steadfast commitment to backing the network, stating that the United Nations stands ready to support Kenya through joint election preparedness and emphasizing why early diplomacy is non-negotiable: “Prevention is always cheaper, safer, and more durable than coming too late to the conversation.”

Dr. Kimairis Toogood, Peace and Development Advisor at UNRCO addressing the delegates at the meeting.

Building on these foundational discussions, delegates transitioned into working sessions to evaluate past lessons, address security challenges, and map out a clear restructuring plan. Concluding the convening, stakeholders committed to owning the initiative as a united front, agreeing that a follow-up meeting will establish a coordination structure and an apex of mediators with real access to the political class.

Group photo with the delegates at the Women Mediation Network of Kenya meeting.

Peace & Conflict Resolution

International Day of Peace: ENAF Calls for Proactive, Grassroots Action Ahead of 2027

21 September, 2026 ENAF Communications

International Day of Peace: ENAF Calls for Proactive, Grassroots Action Ahead of 2027

To mark the International Day of Peace 2026, Echo Network Africa Foundation (ENAF) joined fellow Kenyans, national peace actors, security agencies, and civil society at Prestige Plaza in Nairobi. In a colourful event under the global theme “Invest in Peace: For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day,” ENAF’s President and CEO, Dr. Jennifer Riria, emphasized the importance of Kenya’s peace preparedness ahead of the 2027 General Election. Addressing a high-level convening that included the National Steering Committee on Peacebuilding and Conflict Management; the National Police Service; and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), Dr. Riria challenged stakeholders to shift from reactive emergency responses to proactive, community-led peacebuilding. “Peace is not something we inherit automatically,” Dr. Riria told the assembled peace actors and duty bearers. “Every generation must choose it, protect it, and invest in it”.

ENAF President and CEO Dr. Jennifer Riria delivering her remarks on the importance of proactive, community-led peacebuilding at the International Day of Peace 2026 convening in Nairobi.

In alignment with this call for local action, ENAF continues to drive grassroots peacebuilding through its flagship program, the Tuvuke Initiative. This year alone, ENAF reached nearly 16,000 individuals across five counties, actively training 52 Women Peace Champions to help identify emerging tensions, facilitate dialogue, and connect affected community members to appropriate support. Using simple but effective tools like WhatsApp networks, local safe desks, Nyumba Kumi elders, and the 1195 gender-based violence hotline, these women are actively mediating local conflicts, identifying protection concerns, and referring survivors to appropriate services. Crucially, ENAF has expanded this grassroots network by working directly with local boda boda operators, empowering them to resist political manipulation and work alongside the women champions to keep their neighborhoods safe.

Demonstrating this commitment during the event, peace actors including boda boda riders signed the Tuvuke Initiative Peace Charter, a voluntary public commitment where they pledged to respect the rule of law, protect women and girls, and serve as trusted peace ambassadors.

To ensure these frontline peace actors have the support they require to safely and effectively carry out their work, ENAF is actively advocating for structural support from local authorities. ENAF continues to challenge local police and security agencies to provide Women Peace Champions with direct, 24-hour contact lines, ensuring that when a mother calls for help late at night, the phone is actually answered. Furthermore, ENAF urges the public, particularly the youth and boda boda riders, to be careful about the media they consume, asking them to verify information before forwarding inflammatory videos or voice notes on WhatsApp. Dr. Riria concluded her participation by joining fellow leaders in launching “The Dear Kenya Peace Campaign” and signing the official Commitment to Peace pledge, cementing ENAF’s commitment to inclusive, community-led peacebuilding and social cohesion.