KENYA: Religious leaders express concern over IEBC aptitude and demand transparency and accountability ahead of General Election next year
Religious leaders in Kenya, who recently met
under the Kenya Inter Faith Elections Programme (KIEP), have expressed their
concerns over the prevailing political activities and especially early
campaigns ahead of the 2017 country’s general election and reiterated that it must
be free, fair, peaceful and credible.
under the Kenya Inter Faith Elections Programme (KIEP), have expressed their
concerns over the prevailing political activities and especially early
campaigns ahead of the 2017 country’s general election and reiterated that it must
be free, fair, peaceful and credible.
In their Press statement issued on 31 March 2016
at Ol Lerai Jumuia Palace Nairobi on behalf of Kenya Inter Faith Elections
Programme the religious leaders stated that the greatest hindrance to free,
fair, peaceful and credible elections in Kenya has always been the failure by
electoral management bodies to enforce the electoral laws, a trend that has
been perfected by the IEBC’s refusal to implement to provisions of the
Elections Act 2011.
at Ol Lerai Jumuia Palace Nairobi on behalf of Kenya Inter Faith Elections
Programme the religious leaders stated that the greatest hindrance to free,
fair, peaceful and credible elections in Kenya has always been the failure by
electoral management bodies to enforce the electoral laws, a trend that has
been perfected by the IEBC’s refusal to implement to provisions of the
Elections Act 2011.
“This has resulted in the situation where some
people behave as though they are untouchable sacred cows that can commit any
manner of elections offences without any repercussions. We wish to inform the
IEBC commissioners and staff that their day of emancipation from political
patronage will be the day they bar errant individuals from participating in elections.
Then, and only then, will Kenyans start taking them seriously,” read the
statement.
people behave as though they are untouchable sacred cows that can commit any
manner of elections offences without any repercussions. We wish to inform the
IEBC commissioners and staff that their day of emancipation from political
patronage will be the day they bar errant individuals from participating in elections.
Then, and only then, will Kenyans start taking them seriously,” read the
statement.
They have keenly observed the recent events that
have demonstrated shortcomings in the capacity of the IEBC to handle various
electoral responsibilities. These, alongside the issue of the term of the
current leadership, must be candidly addressed. This is especially so since
their term will expire soon after the 2017 General Elections. “To this end, we
would urge Kenyans to soberly address these issues, and we as religious leaders
are willing to participate in the process and possible lead it,” they stated.
have demonstrated shortcomings in the capacity of the IEBC to handle various
electoral responsibilities. These, alongside the issue of the term of the
current leadership, must be candidly addressed. This is especially so since
their term will expire soon after the 2017 General Elections. “To this end, we
would urge Kenyans to soberly address these issues, and we as religious leaders
are willing to participate in the process and possible lead it,” they stated.
They urged that all the security officers to
purpose to ensure the security and integrity of the 2017 General Elections by
ensuring that any and all persons who break the law are dealt with immediately.
purpose to ensure the security and integrity of the 2017 General Elections by
ensuring that any and all persons who break the law are dealt with immediately.
To the politicians, the religious leaders urged
them to cease making elections a matter of life and death for Kenyans. “It is
immoral and sinful for anyone who is seeking a position to casually posit that
Kenyans can die and be maimed just so that they achieve your political
ambitions. We are especially disgusted that politicians and aspirants at
different levels are creating militias whose sole intent is to visit violence
on Kenyans. This must be stopped forthwith,” read the statement.
them to cease making elections a matter of life and death for Kenyans. “It is
immoral and sinful for anyone who is seeking a position to casually posit that
Kenyans can die and be maimed just so that they achieve your political
ambitions. We are especially disgusted that politicians and aspirants at
different levels are creating militias whose sole intent is to visit violence
on Kenyans. This must be stopped forthwith,” read the statement.
In conclusion they asked the Kenyans not to be
deceived by few elites who use social media to propagate hate messages. “We
counsel you that the best security against those who are hell-bent on
destroying our national cohesion is to speak out against those messages and
reject the leaders who espouse the same,” read the statement adding that “We
especially urge all our youth to refuse to be used by political actors to cause
violence and chaos in the country.”
deceived by few elites who use social media to propagate hate messages. “We
counsel you that the best security against those who are hell-bent on
destroying our national cohesion is to speak out against those messages and
reject the leaders who espouse the same,” read the statement adding that “We
especially urge all our youth to refuse to be used by political actors to cause
violence and chaos in the country.”
The statement was signed by Kenya Conference of
Catholic Bishops (KCCB); Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK); Hindu Council of
Kenya; National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK); National Muslim Leaders
Forum (NAMLEF); Organization of African Instituted Churches 9OAIC Kenya);
Seventh Day Adventist Church; Shia Ithnasharia Muslim Association (SHIA) and
Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM).
Catholic Bishops (KCCB); Evangelical Alliance of Kenya (EAK); Hindu Council of
Kenya; National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK); National Muslim Leaders
Forum (NAMLEF); Organization of African Instituted Churches 9OAIC Kenya);
Seventh Day Adventist Church; Shia Ithnasharia Muslim Association (SHIA) and
Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM).
Kenya is set for general election on 8th
August 2017.
August 2017.
By AMECEA
Online News Reporter
Online News Reporter
