US Raises Fears of Possible Violence During Elections in Kenya

The United States has once again raised fears of possible chaos and violence in next month’s Kenya general elections. The US has called on key stakeholders of the forthcoming election to take steps to block possible re-occurrence of post-election violence witnessed in the 2007 disputed presidential results.

Speaking while meeting the leader of Majority in the National Assembly Aden Duale, US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec implored the government to ensure that Kenya conducts a free, fair and credible polls.

Godec said that US Observer Mission led by former US Secretary of State John Kerry will arrive in the country next week and will make a comprehensive statement regarding the elections, which are 11 days away.

Kerry, a former US President Barack Obama’s top diplomat between 2013 and 2016, will co-lead an Observer team of The Carter Centre, a non-profit organization founded by former US President Jimmy Carter to promote democracy and human rights around the world. The team will observe the Kenya polls and give a report.

Compliance with electoral laws, preparedness of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), security services and the general conduct during voting are some of the areas the Kerry team will pay keen interest on.

Duale during the meeting said that President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party is looking to win the August polls by an indisputable margin to erase any doubts of its victory.

Godec emphasized that Kenya remains a key US partner as far as promotion of regional security and humanitarian assistance, finance, and transportation is concerned.