US ambassador to Kenya, Robert Godec has promised his country will not interfere with Kenya’s general election neither does it have a preferred presidential candidate in the August elections.
“Only Kenyans will make a decision on who will be their leader…We, however, do support and encourage voter participation,” he said as quoted by Daily nation.
Ambassador Godec, who spoke after visiting Kariobangi South in Nairobi County on Wednesday, urged more Kenyans to register as voters.
The diplomat asked eligible Kenyans to register as voters since that was the only way Kenyans can express the choice of leaders they want.
"Voter apathy is not the answer. Get yourself engaged in the process. Participating in the process is what makes a democracy. It is what makes America great and it is what will make this country great," he said.
This is a far cry from 2013 general elections when United States was seen to largely prefer the candidature of Coalition of Reforms and Democracy (CORD), Raila Odinga.
Assistant Secretary of State, Johnnie Carson was famously quoted warning Kenyans against electing Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate, William Ruto who were facing charges in the International Criminal Court (ICC) for crimes related to the inter-tribal fighting that followed the last presidential election in 2007.
“Choices have consequences," Carson warned.
According to the latest statistics released by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), so far 2.1 million Kenyans have registered with only one week to go.
The electoral commission had initially set a target of six million new voters, but with the situation on the ground now it is hoping it can atleast get half of its target.