EU urges Kenyans to agree on date of next election

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By LUCAS BARASA lbarassa@ke.nationmedia.com and LEONARD MUTINDA lmutinda@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Wednesday, March 28  2012 at  22:00

IN SUMMARY

• Official makes the call as the US ambassador backs the March 4, 2013, polls fixed by electoral commission

The European Union wants Kenyans to agree and announce a definite date for the General Election.

At the same time, the United States backed the March 4, 2013, date announced by the polls agency.

Fixing an agreeable election date would allow the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to prepare appropriately, said EU managing director for Africa Nick Westcott.

The official called on Kenyans to agree on an election date through consensus.

“It is a critical year for Kenya as we approach the next election, although the precise date is not yet known,” Mr Westcott told a press conference in Nairobi on Wednesay.

The official said the EU was ready to provide an observer mission for the next polls to ensure they were free and fair. The EU would further support various structures of government and justice, and the security system.

Mr Westcott said the elections should be free, fair and transparent for them to be accepted by everybody and called for a credible electoral register, which was reliable and verifiable.

“There should be a credible process for the votes to be cast and counted,” he said, adding that information and communication technology should be embraced as it could reduce irregularities by 90 per cent.

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On the post-election violence cases, Mr Westcott said: “The International Criminal Court process must take place. People should be accountable and those trying to undermine it held accountable for it.”

The US embassy voiced its support for the IEBC’s choice of a March 4, 2013, election date.

It said the IEBC, which had come under sharp criticism from a section of politicians who favour a December 2012 election as has been the tradition, was being victimised for a decision that is within its “constitutional mandate”.

Ambassador Scott Gration said the debate about the validity of the decision by the IEBC had gone on for long.

“The time for mourning is over. It is now time to be quiet,” said the ambassador at a conference in Nairobi to elect youth leaders.