The Labour Party of Kenya has intensified preparations for the 2027 General Election, with former Cabinet Secretary and party leader Dr Samwel Kazungu calling for national unity, issue-based politics and stronger grassroots mobilisation ahead of the polls.
Dr Kazungu said the party was committed to offering Kenyans an alternative political platform anchored on workers’ welfare, accountability, inclusivity and good governance, urging political leaders to abandon divisive politics and focus on development-oriented agendas.
Speaking during a meeting of the party’s Supreme Council attended by leaders drawn from all eight regions of the country, Dr Kazungu said the party was reviewing recommendations presented by its National Executive Council (NEC) as part of preparations for the forthcoming electoral contest.
He noted that the meeting was an important stage in the party’s internal decision-making process, with proposals on leadership, organisational structures and political strategies subjected to deliberations before being forwarded to the National Delegates Conference for consideration and ratification.
Dr Kazungu emphasised that the party’s decisions would be guided by its constitution and the country’s electoral laws, adding that the leadership was working closely with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to ensure its structures and membership were compliant with legal requirements ahead of the elections.
He said the party had begun mobilising members across the country, with representatives from branches, sub-branches, youth and women’s organisations participating in the deliberations.
The party leader maintained that the Labour Party believed in peaceful competition, democratic consultations and respect for divergent political opinions, urging Kenyans to embrace unity as the country approaches the election period.
“We want a united nation and a place of peace. We want campaigns that do not point fingers but instead focus on substance and solutions that can move the country forward,” he said.
Dr Kazungu also underscored the importance of workers in national development, saying the party’s ideology was founded on protecting their interests and creating a conducive environment for productive engagement across all sectors of the economy.
He called on Kenyans, particularly those seeking elective positions, to join the party and participate in shaping its policies and leadership agenda.
Labour Party National Chairperson Prof Julia Ojiambo said the Supreme Council meeting was convened to consider recommendations from the NEC, emphasising that the proposals were not automatically binding but would undergo democratic scrutiny before adoption.
Prof Ojiambo said the party was determined to strengthen its national structures and prepare its membership for the 2027 elections, noting that representatives from the eight regions had attended the meeting to present views and recommendations from the grassroots.
She said the party was committed to peaceful politics, inclusivity and respect for democratic institutions, warning against political competition driven by tribalism, hatred and propaganda.
Prof Ojiambo further called for a united country, saying political parties should provide platforms where Kenyans could freely contribute ideas and participate in leadership without discrimination.
She also urged women and young people to take up leadership opportunities within the party, saying the Labour Party was committed to promoting equal participation in political and economic affairs.
Meanwhile, Labour Party youth leader Antony Massu said the party had placed young people at the centre of its political agenda, recognising their contribution to the country’s workforce and economic development.
Massu said the party had been conducting grassroots mobilisation and membership registration in universities, workplaces and different sectors of the economy, adding that its recruitment drive was aimed at giving young people a meaningful role in the country’s political processes.
He challenged the youth to participate in politics through constructive engagement rather than allowing themselves to be manipulated into political violence.
“The Labour Party recognises young people as the energy of the nation and the force driving the country’s progress. We do not view them as leaders of tomorrow but as important participants in leadership today,” he said.
Massu encouraged young Kenyans interested in elective positions and policymaking to join the party and use its platform to advance their aspirations.
Malindi parliamentary aspirant Lucas Maitha, who also addressed the meeting, called for issue-based politics and national cohesion, saying the country needed leaders capable of addressing challenges affecting ordinary citizens.
Maitha said the party was positioning itself to participate effectively in the 2027 elections through strengthened structures, a clear policy agenda and engagement with Kenyans at the grassroots.
He emphasised that the country’s political future should be shaped by the needs and aspirations of ordinary voters rather than personalities, financial influence or ethnic considerations.
Maitha also highlighted corruption as a major obstacle to development, saying the vice continued to undermine the delivery of essential public services, including healthcare and infrastructure.
He called for accountability at both national and county government levels, noting that resources allocated for development must translate into tangible benefits for citizens.
The leaders said the party would continue engaging its grassroots membership before presenting its final resolutions following the Supreme Council deliberations.
The meeting brought together party representatives from across the country, including leaders of its youth, women’s and persons with disabilities’ wings, as the party steps up preparations for the 2027 General Election.