Kenyans have been urged to put national interests above personal, ethnic and regional considerations ahead of the 2027 General Election, with government officials warning that the erosion of national values threatens unity, accountability and sustainable development.
Speaking during World Values Day celebrations at Kenya Railways headquarters in Nairobi on Thursday, Principal Secretary for National Government Coordination Ahmed Abdisalan Ibrahim, represented by Abednego Etyang, called on citizens to embrace patriotism, integrity and responsible citizenship to safeguard peace and stability.
Held under the global theme Values and Volunteerism, the event highlighted the role of selfless service and collective responsibility in building a cohesive society.
Etyang said the commemoration offered Kenyans an opportunity to reflect on their constitutional obligations and the importance of national values in shaping leadership, public service and individual conduct.
“The progress of the Kenyan nation and the realisation of the aspirations of its citizens are predicated on the institutionalisation and inculcation of these values into all segments of the Kenyan society,” he said.
He cited Article 10 of the Constitution, which outlines national values and principles of governance, including patriotism, national unity, the rule of law, democracy, public participation, human dignity, equity, integrity, transparency and accountability.
Etyang said these principles must guide citizens' decisions and relationships, particularly as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Patriotism requires us to demonstrate loyalty to our country and be willing to subordinate personal interests to the national good,” he said, urging Kenyans to reject ethnic divisions and regional rivalries that could undermine national cohesion.
He said the government was strengthening programmes to promote national values through the State Department for National Government Coordination and its Directorate of National Cohesion and Values.
The initiatives involve families, community leaders, faith-based organisations, civil society, youth groups and political leaders in promoting ethical conduct and responsible citizenship.
Etyang cited a training manual designed to help parents instil values in children and young people, which has been used to train parents in Nyamira, Kisumu, Kakamega, Nairobi and Bungoma counties.
He said the government would continue implementing Sessional Paper No. 8 of 2013 on National Values and Principles of Governance, while strengthening partnerships to promote national identity and cohesion.
He added that the values enshrined in Article 10 should remain central to Kenya Vision 2030 and guide the country's development priorities beyond 2030.
The call for stronger national values was echoed by Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) Secretary and Chief Executive Officer Abdi A. Mohamud, who warned that corruption remained a major obstacle to accountable governance and effective public service delivery.
Mohamud said the fight against corruption required more than investigations, prosecutions and the recovery of unexplained assets, arguing that lasting progress depended on building an ethical culture across society.
“The true measure of our commitment to national values lies not in what we profess, but in how we conduct ourselves,” he said.
He urged public institutions to uphold integrity through transparent processes, responsible management of public resources and accountability for decisions made in the exercise of public authority.
Public officers, he said, must recognise that their positions were a public trust and that the resources entrusted to them belonged to Kenyans.
Mohamud said recruitment, procurement, public expenditure and service delivery should be guided by fairness, merit, legality and the public interest.
He also urged citizens to demand accountability through lawful and constructive engagement, emphasising that integrity should be upheld regardless of the likelihood of detection or punishment.
With the 2027 elections approaching, the EACC chief challenged Kenyans to reject electoral bribery, discourage hate speech and uphold the rule of law.
He said active citizenship extended beyond voting and attending public forums to include protecting public property, speaking out against wrongdoing and contributing positively to communities.
Mohamud further called on families, schools, religious institutions and workplaces to nurture integrity, patriotism and responsibility among young people.
Both officials said volunteerism offered Kenyans an opportunity to contribute to national development regardless of their social or economic status, while strengthening solidarity and collective responsibility.
They urged citizens to use World Values Day to renew their commitment to ethical conduct, accountable leadership and peaceful coexistence.
They said Kenya's future would depend not only on government policies but also on the values demonstrated by leaders, institutions and citizens in their everyday actions, warning that national interests must take precedence over divisive political and personal considerations.
