Big brother is watching, US warns Kenya against undermining electoral body through baseless attacks
Washington, in a statement on Friday expressed concern over Kenya's political environment ahead of the repeat presidential poll scheduled for October 26.
The US has expressed concern over Kenya's political environment ahead of the repeat presidential poll scheduled for October 26.
Washington, in a statement on Friday, also criticised the spirited campaign by politicians seeking to undermine the electoral commission, IEBC.
“Unfortunately, in recent weeks actors on all sides have undermined the electoral commission and stoked tensions. We are closely monitoring Kenya’s electoral process and what politicians are saying and doing,” read part of the statement by US State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert.
The US said while it supports freedom of speech, "baseless attacks and unreasonable demands on the electoral commission are divisive."
"We fully support the commission's efforts to engage leaders and parties in dialogue, and urge all to participate openly, seriously and in good faith."
Since the Supreme Court nullified the August 8th Presidential election, Kenya’s re-run has turned into a cacophony of insults
Forcing the Kenyan churches to wade into the dirty politics and even suggest constitution changes to create more executive positions for inclusivity sake.
The clergy from Protestant churches in the country have condemned the current system in place saying it allows the winner to take it all while the loser gets nothing, therefore polarising the country further.
Additional cabinet posts would, therefore, help address ethnic tensions and divisions witnessed in the country during elections.
With only three weeks to the poll, both ruling Jubilee and opposition NASA politicians have been trading insults and accusations, heightening fears of violence.
Complicating matters even more, the opposition has threatened not to participate in the re-run if the parliament passes proposed amendment to the elections law.
The contentious Electoral Laws Amendment Bill, sponsored by the Jubilee Party, seeks to reduce powers of the electoral commission chairman and entrench the manual system of transmitting results.
The amendment could also prevent the Supreme Court from annulling the results on procedural grounds again.
As a result, National super alliance (NASA) has called for countrywide protests to demand changes at the IEBC including firing of its chief executive Ezra Chiloba and other officials accused of bungling the August 8 election.
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