The Elections Observation Group (ELOG) released its report on its long-term observation mission and commentary on the prevailing environment ahead of the August 2017 general elections. Mr Mule Musau, ELOG National coordinator, noted that during the political party primaries long-term observers indicated a continued open and competitive political environment with minimal government interference.
“Polling stations were accessible to voters including people living with disability and the presence of security agents ensured smooth processes in most of the polling stations,” he quipped.
However, ELOG observers reported a late opening of polling stations, lack of understanding of roles by agents and polling officials, inaccurate voter register/party membership lists and continued violations of Elections Act 2011 such as voter bribery, campaigning by public officials and use of hate speech and intimidating language.
“ELOG is concerned by the surge of political violence and intolerance observed in certain polling stations observed as these indicate a potentially explosive political environment with the prosperity to invalidate the integrity of the electoral process,” Mule pointed out.
ELOG recommends and early warnings
He urged them to provide all electoral material for polling to begin as stipulated times adding political parties to put measures in place to ensure that violation of the secret ballot in are addressed, protecting the sanctity of the ballot contributes to honest and clean elections.
ELOG also urges IEBC, Office of the Registrar Political Parties(ORPP) and political parties and security agencies to ensure that electoral rules and regulations are implemented and put in place mechanism and deal with non-compliance.
Party membership list ELOG urges all political parties to maintain and keep updated lists of members. Moreover, only registered members of a political party should participate in the par nominations processes. Use of any other lists apart from part membership list alienates registered members of the party.
In addition, the long-term observers are tracking non-political events that could be indicators of the political for electoral conflict as Election Day approaches.
These includes the increase in recruitment and arming of militias, the displacement of people due to security concerns and ethnic or clan-based conflicts over resources.
It was noted that the two reporting period areas are most consistent with these were Butula,Kieni,Laikipia East, Mathioya, Nyakach, Ol Jorok and Uriri constituencies.
Baringo and Laikipia have consistently been reported unrest and the displacement of persons. These worrying trends could lead to poor turn out during the forthcoming voter register verification exercise in the month of May and subsequently during the August 8th General Election.
ELOG calls upon institutions charged with handling dispute resolution mechanism to be vigilant and to ensure that non-compliance and various violations rehandled according to the law.
ELOG which is a long term, permanent, and national platform that comprises of the Civil Societies Organizations including Faith Based Organizations with a mandate of strengthening democracy in Kenya and in the African Region through promoting transparent and accountable electoral process that include public participation.