Mudavadi Calls for Peaceful 2027 Polls, Warns Leaders Against Violence

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary, Foreign & Diaspora Affairs, H.E. Musalia Mudavadi, has called on legislators and political leaders to shun violence going into the 2027 general elections.

Speaking when he Mudavadi was when he presided over the opening ceremony of the 6th legislative summit of the County Assembly Forum in Mombasa, Mudavadi said peace was priceless.

“As we head into the election, we must address violence. Do not be an underwriter of Violence Going into the 2027 Polls,” said Mudavadi.

He said that as a peaceful nation, Kenyans should unanimously agree that the elections will be peaceful without any violence.

“I want to assure you that we will have a free, fair and credible election. The election needs to be peaceful for that to be realised,” said Mudavadi.

Peace as a Foundation for Development

Mudavadi said peace had an infinite value that even developed countries in the Middle East are beginning to appreciate.

“I am not talking about the value of airports or roads and I am asking, what is the value of peace? We have seen people with very big airports, but because of the violence, they have become empty and unused,” said Mudavadi.

He commended the County Assemblies Forum for convening such an important national platform and appreciated the leadership of CAF for sustaining a forum that brings together county legislators and stakeholders to reflect on the present state and future direction of devolved governance in Kenya.

“This summit has, over time, established itself as an important space for dialogue, institutional reflection, and practical engagement on the role of County Assemblies in our constitutional order,” said Mudavadi.

Strengthening Devolution and Institutional Oversight

He said the theme of this year’s summit, “Resilient County Assemblies: Reinforcing Representation, Legislation, and Oversight,” was both timely and appropriate.

“It speaks directly to the constitutional mandate of County Assemblies and to the wider task of ensuring that devolution continues to serve the people of Kenya effectively, accountably, and inclusively,” said PCS.

The Prime Cabinet Secretary said something historic happened last week.

“The address by H.E. President William Ruto to the Nairobi County Assembly remains a unique move since the promulgation of the 2010 constitution, a testament that the current government is a defender of Devolution,” said Mudavadi.

He urged the County Assembly Speaker to explore from their Standing Orders how they can invite persons of interest to their devolved units to address them on compelling matters.

“Devolution remains one of the most transformative pillars of our constitutional order,” said Mudavadi.

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Progress and Challenges in County Governance

He noted that devolution had brought governance closer to the people, expanded access to resources, widened public participation, and strengthened democratic accountability at the grassroots.

“The success of devolution does not depend only on the transfer of functions and resources but also depends on the strength of the institutions that uphold accountability, representation, and legislative order at the county level,” PCS said.

PCS thanked the County Assemblies Forum for convening the Summit, an important national platform, and sustaining a forum that brings together county legislators and stakeholders to reflect on the present state and future direction of devolved governance in Kenya.

“The summit has, over time, established itself as an important space for dialogue, institutional reflection, and practical engagement on the role of County Assemblies in our constitutional order,”

He added, “I wish to commend MCAs across the country for the important constitutional role you continue to discharge.”

Mudavadi said that through legislation, oversight, and representation, MCAs remain central to ensuring that county governance is responsive to citizens and faithful to the Constitution.

Over the years, Mudavadi said the County Assemblies had grown in confidence and maturity.

Addressing Welfare and Legislative Reforms

Their increasing vigilance in oversight, your willingness to interrogate budgets and policy choices, and your commitment to public participation are all signs that devolution is growing stronger in practice.

“I am equally aware, however, that this progress has not been without challenge. As you will recall, during the CAF Annual General Meeting held on 19th February 2026 at KICC, Nairobi City County, several important institutional and welfare matters were raised by the leadership of the County Assemblies Forum and by Members of County Assemblies,” he said

Those discussions, he said, were candid, constructive, and solution-oriented and his office had undertaken to engage the relevant institutions on several of the issues raised, and was pleased to note that action had since been taken.

Mudavadi said his office wrote to the Salaries and Remuneration Commission requesting the Commission to review the remuneration of Members of County Assemblies.

This, he said, was in recognition of the concerns raised regarding the remuneration structure of MCAs and the need to ensure that it reflects the constitutional weight of your responsibilities and the realities of your service.

“As you are aware, there has been immense progress since then, and an official update will be given in due time,” he said.

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Legislative and Financial Autonomy Measures

Mudavadi said he had also written to the National Assembly, requesting that it expedites its consideration of the County Assemblies Pensions Scheme Bill, 2024 and to align its provisions to the legitimate interests of Members of County Assemblies.

On retirement security, he said the County Assemblies were not a peripheral matter.

“It is part of the dignity of public service, and the pension framework for MCAs must be fair, sustainable, and responsive to the realities of county legislative service,” said Mudavadi.

PCS said his office had also written to the National Assembly requesting the expediting and fast-tracking of the Intergovernmental Relations (Amendment) Bill, 2024, which seeks to anchor the County Assemblies Forum in law.

“This is an important institutional reform. A legally anchored CAF will be better positioned to coordinate, represent, and support County Assemblies as a collective institution within the broader framework of intergovernmental relations.”

Mudavadi said he communicated with the Cabinet Secretary of the National Treasury, requesting a mechanism for a quick settlement of the dispute between CAF and KRA to secure a fair resolution on the issue of taxation of the motor vehicle reimbursement benefit.

“This is to ensure that MCAs who were taxed on that benefit are refunded as appropriate and within this Administration. This matter has caused understandable concern, and it is my view that it should be addressed in a manner that is fair, lawful, and practical,” PCS noted.

Enhancing Financial Independence and Intergovernmental Relations

Lastly, the PCS said he was aware of the continuing importance of the County Public Finance (Amendment) Laws Act, 2025, particularly as it relates to the financial autonomy of County Assemblies.

Financial autonomy is not an issue of institutional privilege.

“It is a necessary condition for effective legislative independence and credible oversight.”

“To this end and upon receiving concerns from yourselves, my office wrote to the Controller of Budget, bringing to her attention the need to ensure that the County Assembly Fund was operationalised. I am pleased to note that the Controller of Budget has since issued Guidelines to the County Executives and County Assemblies on the Procedures and Requirements for the withdrawal of funds from the County Assembly funds,” PCS said.

The Controller of Budget, he said, had also expressly undertaken to monitor the implementation of the Guidelines.

I hope that this action will address the teething challenges that have impeded the operationalization of the County Assemblies Funds.

“Important to note as well, as chair of the National Government Steering Committee of the GLA, working with the County Government Coordinating Summit, we concluded the Intergovernmental Relations (Sector Forums) Regulations, 2026 and conveyed the same to the Senate for approval.”

“The Regulations provide a framework for the establishment and conduct of business of sector forums as key intergovernmental structures under the Intergovernmental Relations Act,” said PCS.

In attendance were Principals, Secretaries, Dr. Aurelia Rono, Parliamentary Affairs, Carren Ageng’o, Children Services, Hon. Joseph at Kombo, Deputy Governor, Kwale County, Hon. Seth Kamanza, CAF Chairman, Senators, led by Hon Wakili Wafula, Senate Majority Whip, Dr. Margaret Nyakong’o, Controller of Budget, Dr. Hosea Kili, Group Managing Director of CPF Financial Services Ltd.

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