Nominated Senator Veronica Maina has urged political leaders across the divide to lower the temperature of their campaigns ahead of the 2027 General Election, warning that insults, violence and inflammatory remarks could deepen tensions and threaten peaceful political competition.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Thursday, Maina called on both government and opposition leaders to respect their political rivals and avoid language that could provoke communities. She said Kenyans were tired of political confrontations and should be left to freely decide who they want to lead them.
“We must all tone down, and I'm saying we tone down both from the government side and from the opposition side. Kenyans, by the way, are very, very tired,” she said.
Maina also criticised politicians for using derogatory labels against opponents, particularly the word “wasaliti” (traitors) to describe leaders who leave one political party for another.
She said politicians who move between parties were exercising a constitutional right and should not be attacked for making such decisions.
“The fact that some members of UDA have crossed to your party DCP, we have no right to call them wasaliti, and we are not calling them wasaliti. They have maybe exercised their right under Article 38,” she said.
“You equally have no right to call anyone “Msaliti”. Don't use those terms,” she added.
The senator warned that insulting and dehumanising political opponents could create an unsafe environment as the country heads towards the next election.
Maina pointed to the 1994 Rwanda genocide as an example of how dangerous political language can become when it is used to fuel divisions and hostility among communities.
“When Rwanda fought, when there was genocide in Rwanda, it begins by the words that people are using, politicians are using,” she said.
She called on the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to take firmer action against political leaders accused of making inflammatory or hateful remarks.
“NCIC, please, you have to do more than you are doing. We have seen efforts because there is a bit of change in NCIC, but those efforts must show that you have teeth to bite,” Maina said.
Maina further challenged the idea of political leaders presenting themselves as “kingpins” with the power to dictate how entire communities should vote.
She said individual voters, rather than political leaders, should have the final say when it comes to choosing candidates and political parties during elections.
“Let the people decide. They have the vote,” she said.
The senator said voters should also recognise the power they hold at the ballot and resist attempts by political leaders to claim control over their choices.
“Voters need to assert their authority and to say I am the kingpin of my vote,” she added.
Her remarks come as political activity continues to build ahead of the 2027 polls, with leaders from both the government and opposition camps seeking to expand their support across the country.
The NCIC has also increased its scrutiny of political statements ahead of the election. In July, the commission said it was investigating 10 prominent political leaders and public figures over remarks it considered potentially inflammatory.
Those named included former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku, Busia Governor Paul Otuoma, Mandera Deputy Governor Ali Maalim Mohamud, Sirisia MP John Waluke, Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia and Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria.
Gachagua and Otuoma were later summoned by the commission over alleged inflammatory remarks.
Mukurweini MP John Kaguchia also appeared before the NCIC on August 24 to assist with investigations into alleged hate speech.