Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Interior and National Administration Kipchumba Murkomen has urged residents of Cherangany Constituency to maintain peace and unity while rejecting political mobilisation based on ethnic divisions.

Speaking during a community fund drive at Twiga Primary School grounds in Nzoia Sub-Location, Cherangany Constituency, Murkomen called on residents to continue living harmoniously and warned against politicians seeking to divide communities along ethnic lines.

The Cabinet Secretary urged political leaders to focus on issues that bring communities together rather than exploiting ethnic differences for political gain, stressing the importance of safeguarding peace and national cohesion.

Murkomen also directed Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs in the area to intensify the crackdown on drug abuse and illicit brews. He called for increased public awareness on the dangers of substance abuse and urged local administrators to work closely with residents to address the problem.

He further encouraged residents to take advantage of the ongoing free registration and replacement of national identity cards at National Registration Bureau centres, noting that valid identification documents are essential for Kenyans seeking to access various government services.

Murkomen was speaking after joining fellow leaders and residents of Nzoia Sub-Location for a fund drive in support of 22 churches in the area.

The event was attended by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Dr Korir Sing’oei, Senator Jackson Mandago, MPs Lilian Siyoi, Julius Rutto and Kakai Bisau, former MP Wesily Korir, Area Deputy County Commissioner Solomon Chesut and several Members of the County Assembly, among other leaders.

The Cabinet Secretary said continued cooperation between national government administrators, political leaders and local communities would be crucial in maintaining peace, tackling social challenges and strengthening cohesion in the region.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged politicians to stop attempting to block their opponents from holding public rallies and instead focus on presenting their policies and development plans to Kenyans ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, on Sunday during the annual memorial service for former Vice President Michael Kijana Wamalwa, Uhuru said Kenyan voters should be allowed to freely decide who they want to lead them.

He called on politicians to conduct their campaigns peacefully, saying the electorate was capable of making its own decisions without interference.

“If it is about asking for votes, let us do it peacefully. Kenyans know who they want. Whether they decide to support Kalonzo, Ruto, Matiang’i, Sifuna or anyone else, that is their decision,” Uhuru said.

The former President also sought to dispel speculation that his attendance at the memorial service marked a return to active politics, insisting that he was not seeking any political office and had no intention of becoming involved in political campaigns.

Uhuru said he did not want to be portrayed as a political power broker, maintaining that his presence at the event was primarily to honour his late friend and former Vice President.

“Do not say that I am getting involved in politics. I have no intention of contesting for any political office,” he said.

He further urged politicians to learn how to compete without turning political differences into personal conflicts, saying healthy competition was an important part of democracy.

Reflecting on his own political journey, Uhuru recalled that he was unsuccessful during his first attempt at the presidency before eventually being elected years later. He said the experience demonstrated the importance of respecting the choices made by voters.

“Even I asked Kenyans to vote for me and they rejected me the first time, but the second time, I got the opportunity,” he said.

Uhuru challenged politicians preparing for the 2027 elections to concentrate on convincing voters through policies and ideas rather than attempting to prevent rival politicians from holding public meetings and political rallies.

The former President also used the occasion to remember Wamalwa, describing him as a leader, friend and patriotic Kenyan who was committed to the country’s progress.

He recalled that although the two were on opposing political sides during the 2002 General Election, their political differences never turned them into personal enemies.

Uhuru recalled that he was in KANU alongside the late President Daniel arap Moi at the time and had encouraged Wamalwa to join his political side. Wamalwa, however, remained with the opposing camp, a decision Uhuru recounted humorously while reflecting on the political competition of the time.

The former President also paid tribute to Wamalwa and other political leaders, including Martha Karua, Charity Ngilu and Kalonzo Musyoka, for their contribution to Kenya’s struggle for multiparty democracy.

He said their efforts played an important role in advancing the country’s democratic space and ensuring that Kenyans could exercise their right to freely choose their leaders.

The memorial service brought together several prominent political leaders, including Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, PLP leader Martha Karua, former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu and Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi.

Uhuru served as the chief guest at the annual memorial service held in Kitale to honor Wamalwa, who served as Vice President under the late President Mwai Kibaki before his death in 2003.

The former President’s call for peaceful political competition comes as political parties and leaders begin positioning themselves for the 2027 General Election, with growing calls for wider political alliances and increased public engagement across the country.

President William Ruto has brushed aside growing criticism from his political opponents, saying he remains confident that Kenyans will be able to distinguish between political slogans and leaders with concrete plans for the country ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking during a press conference at State House, Nairobi, President Ruto said he was not intimidated by the emerging political opposition and expressed confidence in the ability of Kenyan voters to assess the performance of his administration and make an informed decision at the ballot.

Ruto challenged opposition leaders to move beyond insults, political rhetoric and criticism of his government and instead present clear alternative policies to Kenyans. He said it was not enough for political leaders to promise to scrap government programmes without explaining what they would replace them with.

The President singled out key programmes including the Affordable Housing Programme, the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the new university funding model, challenging his opponents to explain how they would improve the initiatives rather than simply promising to abolish them.

“It cannot be your agenda to say, ‘I will stop the construction of houses; I will stop SHA; I will stop university funding,’ without telling Kenyans the alternative,” Ruto said.

He urged opposition leaders to demonstrate how they would improve existing programmes and convince Kenyans that they have better solutions for addressing the country’s challenges.

“My opponents need to think beyond insults, slogans and empty words. We encourage leaders to tell the country, ‘Yes, William Ruto has done this. I can do it better. This is how I can improve it,’” he said.

Ruto said he remained confident in the judgement of Kenyan voters and was prepared to defend his administration’s record in office.

He maintained that he could account for his performance during his four years in office and explain to Kenyans the policies and programmes his administration had implemented.

The President’s remarks come as opposition leaders intensify efforts to build a broad political coalition capable of challenging the Kenya Kwanza administration in the 2027 General Election.

Among the leaders positioning themselves for a possible contest against Ruto are Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa.

The opposition leaders have continued to criticise the Kenya Kwanza administration over what they describe as failure to fulfil some of the promises made during the 2022 election campaign.

The political landscape has also been reshaped by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, who has declared his opposition to the Kenya Kwanza administration following the launch of his People’s Party of Kenya (PPK). Nyoro has said he intends to work with other political leaders to challenge Ruto’s administration.

Amid the growing political contest, Ruto also defended the “hustler” and “bottom-up” concepts that formed a central part of his 2022 presidential campaign.

The President said the two concepts were not merely campaign slogans but represented a policy approach designed to direct greater government support towards low-income households, small businesses and ordinary Kenyans seeking to improve their livelihoods.

He cited the Hustler Fund, SHA, university education support and the Affordable Housing Programme as examples of policies through which his administration was implementing the bottom-up economic approach.

Ruto said the Hustler Fund had so far provided loans amounting to Sh90 billion to 27 million Kenyans, arguing that the programme had enabled small-scale traders, boda boda operators and other low-income earners to access credit and start or expand their businesses.

He said many Kenyans had been using the fund to access small loans to sustain their businesses and meet their daily economic needs.

The President’s defence of his administration comes at a time of heightened political competition, with opposition leaders seeking to consolidate their numbers and forge a united front ahead of the 2027 elections.

With the political battle already taking shape, Ruto is now challenging his opponents to move beyond criticism and present Kenyans with concrete policy alternatives, as voters prepare to assess competing visions for the country’s future.