Commonwealth election observer group issues an appeal to Kenya over corrupt leaders
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Commonwealth Observer Group wants corrupt leaders locked out of future elections and prompt conclusion of appeal cases facing aspirants
Commonwealth Observer Group wants corrupt leaders locked out of future elections and prompt conclusion of appeal cases facing aspirants.
Candidates who have been found guilty of corruption, electoral fraud, or other unethical behavior should be barred from running in elections in the future, according to the Commonwealth Observer Group for Kenya’s general election last year.
In a report on Kenya’s elections, the group also demanded that appeal proceedings involving candidates be resolved promptly in order to avoid interfering with election planning.
“The conviction of any candidate for corruption, electoral malpractice or unethical conduct contrary to national values should lead to automatic disqualification of such a candidate as per the law. In order to satisfy the public interest in certainty, any conviction at the time an election is called should preclude a person from standing in that election,” reads the report.
The electoral commission complained that the prolonged appeal hearings for some candidates, including former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, were delaying their ability to prepare ballots for the August 9, 2022 elections.
The commission eventually barred Sonko from contesting the Mombasa gubernatorial seat following his impeachment by the Senate as Nairobi governor.
To restrict the amount of money spent by candidates, the commonwealth group has advocated for the Elections Campaign Financing Act to be implemented in the general elections of 2027.
The group has warned the commission about its spending, particularly on elections, saying it should compare election expenditures in other nations to see if there are any ways to cut costs for upcoming elections.
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The group, led by former Jamaican prime minister Bruce Golding, praised the election as being credible, open, inclusive, and largely peaceful but expressed concerns about a number of matters, including the IEBC’s funding delays, the failure to publish the voter list for inspection, and mistakes in the printing of ballots.
“The group’s overall assessment was that the election, as a whole, was credible, transparent and inclusive. However, all electoral processes can be further strengthened,” reads the report.
The group in the report also called on IEBC to review its chain of custody procedures relating to the printing of ballots to avoid the types of errors that led to the postponement of elections in some areas, including Kakamega and Mombasa.
“The IEBC should also ensure the voter register is published for an adequate amount of time in advance of the election to allow for inspection and objections,” reads the report.
In order to allow IEBC to prepare adequately for elections, the group wants the exchequer to release money to the commission early to fulfil its mandate within the appropriate timelines.
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