In a rare intervention on Kenyan governance issues, 11 Western envoys based in Nairobi have told the Opposition to tread carefully in the ongoing push to disband the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) before the 2017 General Election.
In a statement, the diplomats emphasised on the need to adhere to the Constitution in dealing with the electoral body, in apparent reference to the bid by the Cord leaders to storm IEBC offices countrywide and evict commissioners and top staff. They warned the politicians to ensure the nation does not witness a repeat of electoral violence as happened in the past, as they criticised the call to storm IEBC offices as unconstitutional.
The envoys from European Union, the USA, Canada and Australia told Kenyans and political leaders to help ensure electoral and judicial offices are stable, effective and enjoy public confidence. The ambassadors and high commissioners said decisions touching on the future of IEBC leadership must be broadly acceptable, achieved through dialogue and made in accordance with the law.
They said there is shared responsibility of the government, the Opposition and the citizens to ensure a free, fair and peaceful elections in 2017. “In recent months, we have discussed the 2017 elections with a broad spectrum of Kenya’s political, religious, civil society and business leaders, and with representatives of the IEBC and reiterated the importance of public confidence in electoral system.”
The envoys’ concerns came on a day after Cord leader Raila Odinga said in a TV interview his team would continue with demonstrations against IEBC on Monday. The demos, which turned chaotic in Nairobi last week when police lobbed teargas at protesters outside Anniversary Towers, had been halted during the period of mourning former First Lady Lucy Kibaki.
“Organising free, fair and peaceful elections is a whole of society effort. Voters must have confidence that institutions such as the IEBC and the Judiciary are impartial, efficient and operate in accordance with the law,” read the statement in part.
The statement came as National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), the Catholic Church and representatives from 13 councils of elders met in what they termed a ‘Dialogue Forum’ where they called for, among other things, “promotion of the rule of law”.
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Cord leader Raila Odinga (right) and other Opposition leaders address supporters during a protest outside IEBC offices in Nairobi, last week. Raila said protests against the poll agency will go on. Photo/DENNIS ONSONGO[/caption]
The elders were drawn from Borana, Luo, Kalenjin, Kamba, Kikuyu, Kisii, Luhya, Meru, Miji Kenda, Embu, Taita, Maasai and Somali communities.
Issuing a statement at the end of a two-day consultative meeting at Jumuiya Conference and Country Home, the three groups urged for the rule of the law to be followed while making the necessary changes.
They called for the strengthening of key institutions that have a direct and weighty role in the outcome of 2017 elections, namely the IEBC, the Supreme Court, Director of Public Prosecutions, the National Police Service and the National Cohesion and Integration Commission.
“Ethnic mobilisation is hurting the country and could spill over into another cycle of violence at the 2017 General Election,” they said and called for dialogue among stakeholders.
“We urge all Kenyans to agree to abide by the Constitution and the laws that are in place and we urge all institutions that have the mandate to enforce the law to fulfill them so as to ensure that justice and peace prevail,” they added.
The religious group and elders criticised early campaigning, adding: “Aspirants and other political actors are seeking to use ethnic identities to label Kenyans as either supporters or enemies.” They resolved: “Church leaders and elders will partner to facilitate scenario building sessions at the county and constituency levels so that Kenyans may appreciate what the nation is facing ahead of polls.”
“The gains made with regard to national cohesion and peaceful co-existence of tribes especially after the 2007 elections and the traumatic aftermath must not be compromised,” the statement by the Jumuiya group said.
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