EU monitors warn of possible election violence

Poll monitors from the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) have warned the government to prepare for possible post-election violence during and after the August 8 General Elections.

Speaking on Monday at a press conference, the EU EOM Chief Observer Marietje Schaake said Kenyans from different parts of the country have expressed their fears, calling upon the government to invest more on putting in place the mechanisms to deal with violence.

However, President Uhuru Kenyatta on Sunday, June 2, assured Kenyans and the international community that the country is adequately prepared to hold a smooth, free, fair and credible election during talks with the EU EOM at State House.

The Head of State said that all the poll stakeholders including the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, political parties and the government have executed their respective roles in readiness for the exercise to run smoothly.

“Elections will be held on August 8 as required by the Constitution and the Government has taken steps to ensure Kenyans exercise their democratic right and choose their leaders without interference. We have also taken measures to ensure that the polls will reflect the will of the people as well as ensuring that the country will be safe during and after the exercise,” said President Kenyatta.

EU, however, exuded confidence with the preparations the country has put in place, championing for Kenyans to participate in what it terms as “an exercise that is all-inclusive, fair and credible.

“EOM will be assessing the General Election according to Kenya’s national law and the international commitments it has made regarding elections. We will look at the reality across the country and make recommendations on how to improve the democratic process in the future,” said EOM Chief Observer Marietje Schaake.

So far, EU EOM has deployed 30 of its observers to different parts of the country to follow closely the electoral preparations, politicians’ campaigns, voter registration and verification, the conduct of the media, the actual voting, tallying and how the election petitions will be handled.

The EU observers will also be meeting other presidential candidates to hear their views on the August polls.

The EU convoy consists of the Head of EOM to Kenya, Ms Marietje Schaake who is also a member of the European Parliament for the Netherlands, EOM Deputy Chief Observer, Ms Hannah Roberts and the EU Ambassador to Kenya, Stephano Dejak.