BY MUCERI MBAE
Church leaders under the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) Upper Eastern Region have called on both the national and county governments to urgently address challenges affecting residents, including water shortage, insecurity, poor healthcare and weak infrastructure, as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a two-day regional forum bringing together representatives from member churches, faith-based organizations, and key stakeholders from Isiolo County, Marsabit County, Tharaka-Nithi County and Meru County, acting NCCK Upper Eastern Regional Chairman James Kimathi Nyaga said many citizens are yet to enjoy services guaranteed under the Constitution.
The forum, themed “Strengthening Governance, Accountability and Trust Towards the 2027 General Elections,” focused on governance, security, healthcare and civic responsibility.
Nyaga said residents in the region continue to face acute water shortages for both domestic and irrigation use, blaming the crisis on the negative effects of climate change that have disrupted weather patterns.
“We therefore depend on both levels of government to make urgent investments in water infrastructure, drilling of boreholes and protection of water catchment areas,” he said.
On security, Nyaga noted that cases of cattle rustling, theft and violent robbery have increased despite government assurances, leading to loss of lives and displacement of communities.
“In some areas, theft and robbery with violence have become more common, and the situation has been worsened by corruption,” he said.
He urged the government to increase the deployment of security officers in hotspot areas, strengthen intelligence gathering and facilitate inter-community peace forums to curb insecurity.
The clergy also raised concerns over the state of healthcare services in the region, saying residents continue to suffer due to lack of medicine, poor service delivery, understaffed health facilities and delayed salaries for medical workers.
Nyaga further criticized frequent failures in the Social Health Authority (SHA) system, saying the challenges have negatively affected access to healthcare.
“We demand urgent action to ensure healthcare services are functional and accessible,” he said.
The church leaders also called on county governments to improve inter-county road infrastructure to enhance economic activities and connectivity within the region.
Nyaga emphasized the need for Kenyans to understand and defend the Constitution of Kenya 2010, saying it offers long-term solutions to many of the country’s challenges.
“As clergy, we are committed to demanding accountability from political leaders who attend services and functions in our churches,” he added.
As the country approaches the campaign period ahead of the 2027 elections, the forum proposed several measures, including investigations and prosecution of individuals mobilizing criminal gangs, increased voter registration for all eligible Kenyans aged 18 years and above, and strict adherence to the Constitution by electoral institutions.
The clergy further insisted that politicians attending church services should be treated strictly as worshippers and should not be allowed to make political speeches from the pulpit.
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