Archbishop Ole Sapit condemns Homa Bay political thuggery, warns of escalation ahead of 2027 polls
The Mt Kenya Times 
Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit addressing the press in Kisii School has condemned the political violence and thuggery witnessed in Homa Bay County during the Linda Mwananchi rally over the weekend. Photo/Elizabeth Angira
By Elizabeth Angira
Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit has condemned the political violence and thuggery witnessed in Homa Bay County during the Linda Mwananchi rally over the weekend, warning that such incidents could create an unstable environment ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Archbishop Sapit called on the relevant authorities to take firm action against those responsible for the violence and ensure that the perpetrators are brought to book.
Two people were reportedly killed and several others injured after goons allegedly infiltrated the rally. Six vehicles were also reportedly set ablaze during the chaos.
The Archbishop spoke to journalists in Kisii County after officiating at the annual Kenya Anglican Youth Organization (KAYO) conference held at Kisii School. The week-long conference has brought together more than 2,500 young people from Anglican dioceses across the country for fellowship, mentorship and discussions on their role in society.
Sapit said political violence undermines democracy and threatens the freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, particularly the freedom of association, expression and conscience.
“We want to condemn in the strongest terms what we have been seeing—the disruption of rallies by either hired people or people who have sent themselves,” Sapit said.
He warned that the increasing disruption of political gatherings could create a volatile atmosphere as the country approaches the 2027 elections.
“We are in a democracy where our democratic right is that we are free to associate, we have freedom to interact, freedom of conscience and freedom of speech,” he said.
The Archbishop also expressed concern over reports that journalists were attacked during the Homa Bay incident, with some allegedly having their equipment damaged and personal belongings stolen.
He said attacks on the media further threaten democracy because journalists play a critical role in informing the public and documenting events.
Sapit urged the youth not to allow themselves to be used to cause violence or disrupt political meetings in exchange for small handouts.
“My urge and advice to all of us in the Church, and particularly to the youth, is to desist from being used. Shun the little handouts because they will not give you much,” he said.
He warned that young people who allow themselves to be used in political violence could ultimately pay a heavy price.
“We have seen people being used and then dumped, or even followed and killed in the name of concealing information they already have,” he said.
The Archbishop urged young people to protect themselves and become agents of peace rather than being drawn into hatred, violence and lawlessness.
“Make sure that in the environment in which you are operating, you become an instrument and an agent of peace by desisting from being lured into acts of lawlessness and being drawn into hatred and hating one another without any particular reason,” he said.
Sapit further challenged security agencies to take responsibility for maintaining public order and prevent political gatherings from being controlled by criminal elements.
He specifically called on the Interior Ministry, the Inspector General of Police and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations to act decisively against political violence.
“My call to those who are maintaining law and order, particularly the Minister of Interior, the IG and the DCI, and those who are managing public order, is to take charge of public order and remove it from the hands of goons,” he said.
The Archbishop warned that allowing political violence to continue unchecked could amount to preparing the country for chaos ahead of the 2027 elections.
“If we continue to see goonism in this country reigning without being abetted, then it is preparation for chaos and we don’t want that chaos,” he cautioned.
He said Kenya needs peace and stability for businesses to thrive and for citizens to live and interact freely regardless of their political affiliations.
“We want peace for businesses to thrive. Even whoever is looking for leadership does not want to lead a dispersed nation. You need to lead a nation that is cohesive and united, and you need to lead a nation that belongs to all of us,” Sapit said.
The ACK Archbishop also urged political leaders across the divide to exercise restraint in their public utterances and avoid statements that could deepen political divisions.
“My urge is that let us all be careful in our utterances, whether you are in the opposition or in government. Let us use our tongues to bless Kenya, not to divide Kenya; to give hope, not to create a state of hopelessness,” he said.
He stressed that political competition should be based on the presentation of ideas rather than intimidation and violence.
“Those who are using young people to disrupt one another’s meetings, that is not the way. The way of democracy is that we are free to sell the agenda that any one of us has,” he said.
According to Sapit, Kenyans should be allowed to listen to competing political views and make their own choices without interference.
“If you don’t like somebody’s opinion, the answer is not to crush them or to fight them. The answer is to leave their meeting. The answer is to project your opinion,” he said.
He called on Kenyans to protect the democratic space and allow citizens to freely determine the leadership they want when they go to the polls in 2027.
Youth as Agents of Peace
Speaking about the KAYO conference, Sapit said the gathering was also aimed at bringing together young people from different communities and regions to promote national unity.
The conference has attracted youth from various parts of the country, providing an opportunity for them to interact, fellowship and reflect on their role in building a peaceful and cohesive Kenya.
“We are using these conferences to build one nation, Kenya, because we come from every language group and every region of this country to show that we are one in Christ, but also we are one as a nation called Kenya,” he said.
He said young people have an important role to play in transforming their communities and creating a positive environment both at home and in society.
Sapit explained that the conference theme focuses on how young people can become wholesome individuals capable of using creativity and knowledge to transform their surroundings.
He said empowering young people with the right values, knowledge and skills would help them resist manipulation and contribute positively to society.
As Kenya heads towards the 2027 General Election, the Archbishop’s message was clear: political differences should not be allowed to turn into violence, and young people should not be used as tools for political confrontation.
For Sapit, protecting Kenya’s democratic space requires collective responsibility from politicians, security agencies, religious leaders, the media and ordinary citizens.
He urged Kenyans to embrace dialogue, respect divergent opinions and ensure that political competition remains peaceful.
“Let Kenya have the freedom to choose the leadership they want in the year that is coming,” he said.
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- Mt Kenya Times ePAPER August 20, 2026
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