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.
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 said 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.
“This training has given civil society organisations an opportunity to understand the preparedness of IEBC, ORPP and other institutions towards the General Election,” said Maloba.
“Today we focused on how civil society organisations can partner with ORPP to ensure we have a peaceful election in 2027. They have been trained on their role and how they can advocate for the rights of youths, PWDs and women,” he added.
Maloba noted that participants are expected to cascade the knowledge gained to their community members to ensure wider civic awareness.
“The CBOs have members in the community, so we expect them to share this information and sensitize others on their role in the coming election. They should also understand the partnership between ORPP and civil society and how political parties operate,” he said.
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 taken through 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.
However, they were cautioned against endorsing political candidates, accepting funding from political actors for civic education, or using their platforms for political mobilization.
The training also focused on the use of technology in elections, including 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 spread false political information rapidly. 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, thanked ORPP for partnering with the network to deliver the training, describing the role of civil society in elections as very critical.
“They have trained us on the role of civil society and faith-based organizations towards elections,” said Lelei. “We will sensitize the community so that we can have a peaceful election and ensure all groups, including youth, PWDs and marginalized communities, participate effectively.”
Mustapha Simiyu, a CSO representative, said civic education remains central to ensuring inclusive and peaceful elections.
“Civil society plays a very important role in creating awareness and helping communities understand their rights and participation in elections,” he said.
By Ekuwam Sylvester and Becklyne Cherono
