The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has called for stronger protection of women, persons with disabilities, youth, children, older persons and marginalised communities ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The ODPP said Special Interest Groups remain particularly vulnerable to gender-based violence, intimidation and other forms of harm during electoral periods, calling for closer cooperation between justice, security and governance agencies to safeguard their participation.
The concerns were raised during an election preparedness forum held in Isiolo and convened by the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC).
“The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) participated in a stakeholders’ forum on election preparedness in Isiolo, with discussions focusing on the participation and protection of Special Interest Groups (SIGs), including women, persons with disabilities, children, youth, older persons, and minority and marginalised communities,”statement said.
The forum brought together officials from the justice, security, governance and civil society sectors to discuss ways of ensuring elections are peaceful, inclusive and accessible to all groups.
ODPP Isiolo County Head and Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Desmond Majale told the forum that Special Interest Groups facing gender-based violence and intimidation must have access to justice and adequate protection throughout the electoral process.
Majale made a presentation on “Access to Justice for Special Interest Groups Facing Gender-Based Violence (SGBV), Intimidation and Harm During the Electoral Process.”
He called for continued collaboration among stakeholders and increased capacity in dealing with SGBV cases, particularly in understanding the law, handling evidence and providing support to survivors.
Majale also urged stakeholders to take the awareness campaign to communities through barazas, religious forums, youth programmes and schools.
He said such engagements would help communities understand their rights while raising awareness on the dangers of violence, hate speech and election-related propaganda.
The forum was chaired by NGEC Chairperson Rehema Jaldesa, who was accompanied by the commission’s Vice Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Purity Ngina.
Representatives from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), National Police Service, Prisons and Probation departments, Office of the Ombudsman, Registrar of Political Parties and the county government attended the meeting.
Civil society and community-based organisations, as well as representatives of youth, women and religious groups, also participated.