Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has urged diplomatic missions planning to deploy election observers for Kenya’s 2027 General Election to begin preparations early, in line with the timetable and requirements set by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Speaking during a diplomatic briefing in Nairobi, Mudavadi said early accreditation will help observers avoid inconveniences arising from non-compliance with electoral requirements.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to a safe, free and peaceful election on 10th August 2027.
Mudavadi also urged the diplomatic community to respect the IEBC's independence, saying the electoral commission must be allowed to discharge its constitutional mandate professionally and without interference.
On regional trade, Mudavadi clarified that Kenya’s measures on small-scale businesses do not amount to a blanket ban on foreign nationals, but are intended to ensure compliance with immigration, work permit, registration and licensing requirements.
He said Kenya remains committed to regional integration and will continue to facilitate the movement of people, goods, services and capital in accordance with applicable laws and regional agreements.
On the economy, Mudavadi said Kenya’s economy continues to demonstrate resilience, with real Gross Domestic Product growing by 5.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, compared with 4.9 per cent during the same period last year.
He also highlighted Kenya’s growing investment opportunities, noting that the Nairobi Securities Exchange had crossed four trillion shillings in market capitalisation for the first time.
Mudavadi further called for stronger regional and international cooperation in addressing peace and security challenges, particularly terrorism, transnational crime and conflicts in the region.
On food security, the Prime Cabinet Secretary said Kenya is preparing for the anticipated impact of changing weather patterns, with the government scaling up irrigation and other measures to cushion the country against a potential decline in food production.
He also said Kenya remains on heightened preparedness against Ebola, maintaining surveillance and passenger screening at major points of entry, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Mudavadi said Kenya will continue to engage the diplomatic community on matters of mutual interest as the country prepares to host the inaugural Global Trust Summit in Nairobi on 22nd and 23rd October 2026.
He also appealed to diplomatic missions to support Kenya’s international candidatures, including that of Lady Justice Njoki Ndung’u for the International Criminal Court for the 2027–2036 term, with the election scheduled for December 2026.
