DTM PRESS STATEMENT: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY 2026

PRESS STATEMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
15 Sept 2026

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY 2026: DTM CALLS FOR A PEOPLE-CENTRED 2027 ELECTION

As Kenya marks the International Day of Democracy, Development Through Media (DTM) calls for a renewed focus on the citizen at the centre of Kenya’s democratic process as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election.

The 2027 election should be more than a contest for political power. It should be an opportunity for Kenyans to articulate the kind of country they want to build and to demand leadership that responds to their aspirations, protects their rights and delivers inclusive and sustainable development.

For DTM, democracy does not begin and end with voting. It is about citizens having voice, access to information, meaningful participation, agency and the ability to hold to account, those entrusted with public power.

As an organisation committed to amplifying the voices of vulnerable, marginalised and often unheard communities, DTM believes that Kenya’s democratic conversation must move beyond political personalities, ethnic mobilisation and elite political calculations, to focus on the people’s agenda.

DTM urges citizens, political actors, the media, civil society and other stakeholders to ask a fundamental question:

What do Kenyans want the 2027 election to be about?

The answer should not be determined solely in political boardrooms. It must emerge from the lived experiences and aspirations of citizens across the country.

DTM therefore calls for a democratic process in which young people are recognised not simply as voters, campaign crowds or targets of political mobilisation, but as active citizens, agenda setters and partners in shaping Kenya’s future.

DTM also reminds citizens that democracy is a shared responsibility. Political leaders have a responsibility to lead responsibly, the media has a responsibility to inform responsibly, and citizens have a responsibility to participate peacefully, critically and constructively.

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Signed:

Ms Dommie Yambo-Odotte,
Executive Director and Producer
Development Through Media (DTM)
“Empowering Communities Through Information, Participation, and Social Transformation.”

For Media Inquiries contact:
Communications Desk
Email: info[at]dtmafrica.com
Websites: https://www.dtmafrica.com; https://radiobaraza.org

About DTM
Development Through Media (DTM) is a pioneer media-based, not-for-profit Civil Society Organisation (M-CSO) in Kenya, dedicated to harnessing the power of media and communication for inclusive and transformative development. Through partnerships, capacity building, content creation, dissemination and advocacy, DTM empowers citizens—including youth and marginalised communities in the rural and urban areas—to actively participate in shaping the social, economic, and political decisions that affect their lives.