KENYA ELECTIONS: INTERIM REPORT OF PAN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 NAIROBI 000008 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KDEM PGOV PREL KE SUBJECT: KENYA ELECTIONS: INTERIM REPORT OF PAN AFRICAN MOVEMENT OBSERVER MISSION The Pan African Movement Observer Mission released the following Preliminary Report on January 2, 2008. Begin text: The Pan African Movement Observer Mission (PAMOM) arrived in the Kenyan capital on the 25th December, 2007 and commenced the deployment of its observers the following day on the 26th. In total, the Observer Mission consisted of forty one members drawn from the Pan African Movement's (PAM)) vast membership across the continent. The PAMOM deployed 13 of the country?s districts, as well as in all the 8 constituencies of Nairobi. We first and foremost would like to duly recognize and appreciate the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) for inviting us as one of the International Observers. In accordance to our earlier communication to the ECK, the PAM subscribes to the outcomes of the historic 2003 Conference in Pretoria on Elections, Democracy and Governance hosted by the Independent Electoral Commission of South Africa, in collaboration with the Africa Union Commission and Association of Electoral Authorities. Our Mission observed the enthusiastic turnout of voters, most of who turned up at polling stations as early as two hours before their official opening. Furthermore, we observed the patience, orderliness and determination with which most voters exhibited during the entire voting process. The professionalism of the ECK in conducting the voting process also needs mention here as it went on smoothly, in spite of the delay in the delivery of voting materials to certain areas. That not withstanding, the Commission failed in adequately managing the tallying process, which led to the current confusion. Given our mandate as observers, we recognize that in view of the challenges facing African democratization and good governance, the principles of free, fair and credible elections are central to the achievement of democracy, good governance and progressive constitutionalism. It is on that premise therefore that we would like to point out a few observations that did not auger well with the principles mentioned above. The voter's register was not adequately made available to the public for verification prior to voting day, which led to the discovery of the omission of certain names on voting day. Observers were not accorded the opportunity to observe the entire election process, particularly the tallying process that has now become the center of dispute of the results. Provisional results that are supposed to be announced within an agreed and reasonable period to allow for possible challenges prior to final certification were haphazardly announced hence causing anxiety and putting the integrity of the ECK in doubt. Certain broadcasting houses, particularly KBC, exhibited high standards of biasness towards particular interests in breech of the principle of equal and fair reporting. At this point, the PAM would like to reaffirm its recognition of the interrelatedness between the process of democratization and pursuit of the right to sustainable development. Therefore, as a result of the observations stated above, electoral disputes occurred and have thus far plunged this once great model of democracy, Kenya, into conflict. Thus, the challenges facing the current democratization process in Kenya have immensely affected not only its political economy, but also the economies of various countries in the region given Kenya?s vantage position. Therefore, the PAM strongly condemns the ongoing ethnic violence that has resulted into the senseless loss of life and property. We call upon Kenyans to restrain themselves and to seek legal redress as an end to the current confusion. The PAM calls upon the region to come to the assistance of Kenyans, especially in as far as interventions in quelling the ongoing violence are concerned. Finally, the PAMOM would like to categorically state that there have been significant difficulties in as far as the final results of the Kenyan General Elections are concerned. This is due to a number of factors such as the disenfranchisement of voters that materialized into the current violence that has engulfed parts of NAIROBI 00000008 002.2 OF 002 the country. Other factors such as statistical anomalies arising out of the relationship between the unusually high numbers of registered voters vis a vis the final tally of votes cast, as well as revelations of discrepancies of the election process will be dealt with in more detail in the final report to be released soon. Kampala January 2, 2008 End text. RANNEBERGER