Observers Speak Out: Accord IEBC Time, ‘Conducive Environment’

A host of international observers that are in Kenya to oversee the general elections have asked that the electoral body, IEBC be accorded a conducive environment that will enable it effectively fulfill its obligation.

The observers said in a statement released Wednesday that the electoral process was still underway, urging all stakeholders to be patient until the final declaration is made.

Observers who include former U.S Secretary of State John Kerry, former Presidents Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and John Dramani Mahama of Ghana met on Wednesday afternoon after opposition candidate Raila Odinga of the National Super Alliance (NASA) disputed the preliminary results as ‘fraud’. Odinga claimed the IEBC system had been hacked and manipulated with a deliberate intention to favor incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The latest preliminary results show candidate Uhuru Kenyatta of Jubilee Party still in lead with 54.3% while NASA’s Raila Odinga has garnered 44.8% of the votes. Vote counting is still ongoing.

The observers missions represent African Union (AU), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the Commonwealth, East African Community (EAC), European Union (EU), International Conference of the Great LakesRegion (ICGLR), Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), National Democratic Institute (NDI) and The Carter Center (TCC).

In their meeting held at Crown Plaza in Nairobi, the observers underscored the need for the IEBC to continue and tally the results with utmost transparency.

A statement issued after the meeting stated; “Following preliminary consultations on our observations and the recent events in Kenya, it is important to remind all stakeholders that the electoral process is still ongoing.”

“We recognise the tallying of results at all levels is a critical part of the process. We therefore call on IEBC to continue within the constitutionally provided timeframe, the tallying with full integrity and transparency so that all Kenyans can trust the announced results,” the statement further read.

They noted that the IEBC has put in place a process to provide for the integrity and transparency of the elections that should be allowed to continue.

In regard to concerns about results released so far, the observers asked candidates to pursue the legally provided channels of dispute resolution and to urge their supporters to observe peace.

“IEBC personnel need to be able to work freely in a secure environment, with time to complete the process. We note the stated commitment of the IEBC to make scanned copies of forms 34A available to candidates and the public.”

Observers have also called on parties and their supporters to follow the tally process within the provisions of the law as the IEBC continues finalising results based on forms 34A.

“We appeal to all citizens of Kenya to remain committed to peace and the integrity of the electoral process,” they urged.

Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the Great Lakes Region observers gave credit to Kenya for conducting an orderly campaign and the subsequent election. The ICGLR obervers noted that Tuesday’s voting process was peaceful, transparent and that basic rights were adhered to.

However, some flaws were highlighted by the observer mission, among them; delay in starting the voting process in some polling stations, slowness of biometric machines in some polling stations and elivery of voting materials in some polling centers challenged by rains.

Over 400 observers were dispatched across Kenya on election day and some of these will remain on the ground to continue to observe the post-election period.