Bishop Calisto Odede, the newly elected National Chairman of the Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK), addresses journalists during the Alliance’s Annual General Meeting in Nairobi on June 20, 2026.
NAIROBI, June 19, 2026 — The Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK) has condemned rising incidents of goonism, political violence and intimidation across the country, warning that the trend threatens democracy, national cohesion and constitutional freedoms ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during the Press briefing after the Alliance’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Nairobi, EAK General Secretary Rev. Kepha Nyandega said the church body was deeply concerned by increasing incidents of organized violence, destruction of property and the deployment of criminal gangs to disrupt lawful activities.
“We strongly condemn all forms of goonism, political violence and incitement. Such actions undermine democracy, weaken public confidence and threaten national stability,” Nyandega said
while reading the AGM communiqué.He called on political leaders to exercise restraint and uphold peaceful engagement as the country gradually shifts focus towards the next electoral cycle.
“We call upon all political leaders to desist from inflammatory rhetoric, ethnic mobilization, hate speech and divisive political narratives that threaten national cohesion. Political competition must never come at the expense of peace and unity,” he said.
Nyandega also urged Parliament to expedite pending electoral reforms and enact the necessary legislation required to strengthen public confidence in electoral institutions and processes ahead of the 2027 polls.
While commending the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for ongoing voter registration efforts, he noted that registration numbers remained below target and encouraged eligible Kenyans, particularly young people, to register and participate in the country’s democratic processes.
Expounding on the communiqué, newly elected EAK National Chairman Bishop Calisto Odede warned against the growing use of violence to suppress opposing views and disrupt lawful gatherings.
“We want to have confidence in the democratic space that is guaranteed in our Constitution so that we debate our ideas, and we do not include violent attacks as a method of debating ideas. We remain at word level and at ideology level rather than physical level,” said Odede.
The chairman said recent incidents involving attacks on churches, political meetings and public gatherings had created fear among citizens and undermined constitutional freedoms guaranteed to all Kenyans.
He expressed concern over reports that some perpetrators appeared to enjoy protection from sections of the security apparatus and called for thorough investigations into such allegations.
“Our encouragement to those who are in authority is that not only should they arrest those who have been captured on camera practicing these attacks, but they should also investigate who is behind them and contributing to these attacks,” he said.
Odede noted that democratic competition should be based on ideas, policies and constructive engagement rather than intimidation, violence and destruction of property.
Former EAK Chairman and General Superintendent of the Kenya Assemblies of God (KAG), Bishop Philip Kitoto, described goonism as a broader societal challenge that extends beyond politics into business, religion and other sectors of society.
“Goonism is across the world. You find goonism in areas of business, where somebody is buying property and somebody else, for other reasons, had that property in mind and would get goons to interfere,” said Kitoto.
He observed that similar practices had occasionally manifested in leadership contests, church settings and community disputes, often driven by the pursuit of influence, power or economic gain.
“I think the church’s duty is for us to hold, particularly those who are in the security sector, accountable and, if possible, do a lot more by confronting such issues and telling them this has to stop. As a nation, we cannot continue with such behaviour because it is contrary to nation-building and to the unity of the nation,” he said.
Beyond concerns over political violence, the Alliance called on the Government to exercise prudence, discipline and accountability in the management of public resources amid the economic challenges facing many households.
The church body urged authorities to intensify the fight against corruption, reduce wasteful expenditure, strengthen accountability mechanisms in public institutions and prioritize service delivery in critical sectors such as education and healthcare.
EAK also called for timely release of capitation funds to schools and government-sponsored students in universities, saying delays were placing significant strain on learning institutions and affecting service delivery.
On education reforms, the Alliance expressed concern over proposals to integrate Duksi and Madrassa institutions into the formal education system, urging broad stakeholder consultations and adherence to constitutional principles, equality and national cohesion.
The church body further called for strengthened healthcare systems, improved access to affordable medical services and prompt settlement of outstanding payments owed to mission hospitals under the Social Health Authority (SHA).
EAK reaffirmed its commitment to the Kenya National Prayer and Transformation Movement launched in May this year, saying lasting national renewal requires both institutional reforms and transformed values.
The Alliance also expressed concern over reports of hostility, persecution and arrests affecting some Christians and urged authorities to safeguard the constitutional right to freedom of worship for all Kenyans.
During the AGM, Bishop Calisto Odede was elected National Chairman, succeeding Bishop Philip Kitoto whose tenure came to an end. Bishop Dr. Robert Langat was retained as Vice Chairman, Rev. Lydia Besseling Wanjiah elected Honorary Treasurer and Rev. Kepha Nyandega retained as General Secretary.
EAK called upon all Kenyans to reject violence, corruption and division and instead embrace integrity, accountability, compassion and responsible citizenship in building a peaceful and prosperous nation.
