Photo Caption: Participants march through Nairobi’s central business district during the 2026 World Values Day celebrations on October 15, promoting national values and active citizenship as the government calls on Kenyans to uphold patriotism, integrity and national unity ahead of the 2027 General Election.
NAIROBI, October 15, 2026 — Kenyans have been urged to uphold national values, promote political tolerance and safeguard national unity as the country prepares for the 2027 General Elections.
Speaking during the World Values Day celebrations at Kenya Railways Headquarters in Nairobi on Thursday, Abednego Etyang, representing Principal Secretary for National Government Coordination Ahmed Abdisalan Ibrahim, called on citizens to put national interests above personal, ethnic and regional considerations.
“As we approach the 2027 elections, I challenge every Kenyan to prioritise the national over individual, ethnic or regional interests. This will ensure that our country remains united and peaceful during and after the election,” Etyang said.
He said Article 10 of the Constitution provided the foundation for national values and principles of governance, which should guide citizens’ conduct and shape the country’s development.
“The National Values and Principles of Governance are a core part of the supreme law of this country. They define our identity; guide our choices, actions and behaviour,” he said.
Etyang noted that the State Department for National Government Coordination, through the Directorate of National Cohesion and Values, had implemented programmes targeting families, community leaders, faith-based organisations, civil society groups, youth and political leaders to promote national values.
He cited a training manual developed to help parents instil values in children and young people, which had been used to train parents in Nyamira, Kisumu, Kakamega, Nairobi and Bungoma counties.
Meanwhile, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Secretary and Chief Executive Officer Abdi A. Mohamud said the fight against corruption required a strong ethical culture anchored in integrity, transparency and accountability.
Speaking at the same event, Mohamud said corruption thrived where integrity was compromised, accountability was weak and public resources were treated as personal property.
“The fight against corruption is inseparable from the promotion of these values. Corruption thrives where integrity is compromised, accountability is weak and public resources are treated as personal property,” he said.
He added that enforcement measures alone were insufficient without deliberate efforts to nurture ethical conduct across society.
“The EACC recognizes that the fight against corruption requires more than investigations, prosecutions and recovery of unexplained assets. While enforcement remains essential, deliberate effort to promote an ethical culture based on our values remains the surest bet to defeat corruption in our country,” Mohamud said.
He urged public officers to treat their positions as a public trust and ensure decisions on recruitment, procurement, service delivery and public expenditure were guided by fairness, merit, legality and the public interest.
Mohamud also called on Kenyans to reject electoral bribery, discourage hate speech and respect the rule of law as the country approaches the elections.
He said active citizenship extended beyond voting and participation in public forums to include protecting public property, speaking out against wrongdoing, respecting the law and contributing positively to communities.
Secretary for National Cohesion and Values Josiah Musili said the annual commemoration provided an opportunity to raise awareness of national values and encourage citizens to practise them voluntarily.
Musili said programmes had been developed to reach different sectors of society, but stressed that promoting national values was a shared responsibility rather than a government initiative alone.
“Our clarion call to elected leaders is to refer to the values in Article 10 of the Constitution, particularly patriotism, national unity, democracy and participation of the people,” he said.
He expressed confidence that Kenya could hold peaceful elections without compromising national unity, urging political leaders to embrace tolerance and respect constitutional principles.
“We can have elections without tearing the country apart. We can have one country even after the elections,” Musili said.
He urged citizens to take an active role in promoting national values, noting that building a cohesive nation required commitment from individuals and institutions alike.
This year’s global World Values Day theme, Values and Volunteerism, highlights selfless service, civic responsibility and collective action, while the national theme, National Values and Active Citizenship, calls on Kenyans to translate constitutional principles into everyday practice.
