Were not plotting to influence outcome of 2017 polls Envoys

Western envoys on Tuesday denied claims by the government that their civic education funding is meant to influence the outcome of the 2017 General Election.

Led by United States Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec, the foreign envoys said their assistance through the government and civil societies is neutral and not designed to influence elections outcome for any political party or individual.

“As long-time partners, our countries support the Kenyan government and people as they seek to realize the goals of the 2010 Constitution and Kenya’s Vision 2030.  We are committed to helping Kenya to hold free, fair, credible, and peaceful elections in 2017,” read the joint statement issued by the 11 Western envoys.

The envoys were responding to the suspension of IFES Kenya, a firm contracted by USAID to conduct Sh2 billion civic education in Kenya, by the NGO Coordination Board which said on Monday that it was operating in the country illegally.

During Jamhuri Day celebrations on December 12^th, President Kenyatta warned foreign government against attempts to influence next year’s general elections by pumping billions into NGOs in the guise of ‘civic education.’

However, the US and European Union envoys have maintained that their electoral assistance programs are conducted transparently in consultation with the government, political parties and civil society organizations based on lessons learnt in 2013 general election.

“To be clear, we do not provide electoral assistance to any organization, governmental or non-governmental, to influence the election results for any side, political party, or candidate.  Rather, our assistance supports the Kenyan people to independently exercise their right to vote and have their voice heard,” said the envoys.

On Tuesday, the NGO Board chief executive officer Fazul Mahammed also said IFES Kenya employees had neither been registered with the board nor issued with work permits by the Immigration Department.

The joint statement rebuffing the NGO Board’s claims was issued by envoys from the US, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Finland, UK, Australia and the European Union.