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Kenya frustrated EU efforts to present elections report

It is the second time the international observer is speaking on the elections since November

Ms Marietje Schaake, in a televised address on Wednesday morning from Brussels, said she had to read the report from the European Union parliament so as to meet the EU’s guidelines of presenting a report three months after an election.

“This is one of the very few times that a presentation of an EU mission observation final report takes place here in the European parliament instead of the country where we observed — Kenya,” Ms Schaake said.

“We were entirely prepared to travel to Nairobi this week to present the final report of our recommendations to the government of Kenya as well as to other important stakeholders, of course the most important being the people of Kenya.

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Schaake lauded IEBC for efforts towards a more transparent results process iduring the October 26 election but was concerned about the country's division in the post-election era.

“Kenyans went from high hopes for these elections to many disappointments and confrontations. Kenya remains deeply divided," she said.

"Our final report and recommendations are intended to contribute to a better democratic process and a restoration of trust. But with every recommendation, leadership from those in power, support from the population and cooperation between different fractions are needed in order to initiate reforms.”

Recommendations

She then went ahead to read the observations on the election and a summary of her team’s 29 recommendations.

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Among the issues she highlighted were paying of people to attend rallies, use of State resources during campaigns, politicians intimidating key independent institutions and a persistent lack of trust on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

She also pointed out the violence by police and civilians during the charged electoral period, noting that “Kenyan people did not fully enjoy their democratic right”.

Schaake called on Kenyans to push for reforms on improving the resilience of independent institutions, inclusive legal reform, improved ICT arrangements and IEBC oversight.

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