The Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Erastus Ethekon, has issued a stern warning to politicians seeking elective positions against using youths to incite violence and disrupt peace ahead of the 2027 polls.

Speaking on Wednesday April 22, Erastus Ethekon stated that the Commission has noted a worrying trend where young people are mobilized to cause chaos during political events.

Ethekon cautioned that IEBC will take stringent actions against politicians found culpable, including disqualification from contesting in the 2027 General Election.

“There is a very, very bad phenomenon that has started to enter the political arena. The politicians working with our young people, instead of working for the betterment of the country and our political processes, we have had situations where young people are used as goons or are mobilized to cause chaos and violence,” Ethekon said.

“Going forward, I promise you that we will not hesitate to disqualify any politician found culpable of disrupting the electoral process,” he warned.

He said that the Commission has observed such incidents across the country, particularly during recent by-elections.

“When we held the by-elections in places such as Kasipul, Mbeere, Malava, we saw a phenomenon where politicians are using young people to cause chaos and to disrupt electoral processes,” he added.

The IEBC Chairperson urged politicians to stop exploiting unemployed youths to disrupt the electoral process and instead engage voters through peaceful means.

“There is no way when a politician is looking for a job to cause pain and suffering to other people, innocent people,” he said. “Look for a job, talk to the people who have the cards and who will elect you. But don’t use other people to cause chaos and violence.”

His remarks come barely a day after Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also blamed political leaders for fueling insecurity through the recruitment of young people.

Speaking on April 19 when he appeared before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security, he said the biggest threat to national security comes from leaders who plan violence while holding positions of influence.

“The greatest threat to our national security is not from the slums or young people, but from leaders who plan every day how to recruit goons and gangs to terrorise citizens,” Murkomen said.