IIEC PRAISED

The European Union and US government have expressed optimism that the coming referendum will be transparent and credible.

Nineteen diplomats from EU and the US have said the process will be more credible than the previous one.

The envoys urged Kenyans to register and exercise their right to vote to determine the future of the nation.

“Kenyans have witnessed various unsuccessful attempts to review the country’s basic law. The proposed new constitution represents a break from the past, which many Kenyans have been waiting for the last 20 years,” said EU head of delegation Eric Van der Linden.

The envoy said the proposed constitution will reduce the ‘winner takes all’ mentality and unlock necessary reforms in the police, judiciary and the allocation of resources including land among other sectors.

The US ambassador Michael Ranneberger lauded the Interim Independent Electoral Commission (IIEC) for registering many people.

“The commission is on its way to meeting their target and we urge Kenyans to register as voters,” Ranneberger said.

The envoys, however, said their mandate was not to advice Kenyans on whether to vote for or against the proposed constitution.

“We support the reform process and it is not our job to tell Kenyans on whether to vote Yes or No in the coming referendum,” said British High Commissioner Rob Macaire.

The envoys also praised President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga for supporting the new constitution.

They urged the government to provide adequate funding for registration of voters and civic education campaigns.

“A constitution is a complex document and it is important that everyone is informed,” added Ranneberger.

The envoys pointed out that civic education is vital, as it will cushion Kenyans against individuals who are out to spread wrong information about the document.

“Civic education must have the widest possible outreach and it must help bust the myths and inaccuracies around the contents of the draft in a way that all can clearly understand,” they said in a joint statement.

The envoys refused to comment on the recent reshuffle in government that saw Agriculture minister William Ruto swap ministries with Higher Education counterpart Dr Sally Kosgei but said no one should be victimised for holding different opinion on the document.

“Passions may run high in the lead up to referundum, but no person or group should be tarnished for expressing their views. As both principals and other leaders have underlined, the debate should be respectful and avoid incitement.”