• The government cites past cases of interference with elections as justification for the tough rules.
• Local civil society organizations are jittery over the involvement of foreign entities in providing technical support in the elections.
Image: ALPHONCE GARI
The government has locked out foreign entities from providing technical support to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission during the 2022 general election.
Citing attempts by such entities to interfere with the conduct of elections in the past, the government says it would request support by itself if it needs any.
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration has told all embassies, missions, international organisations, and other foreign entities that had sought to support the IEBC in preparations towards the 2022 general election to wait.
The government, in a letter by Raychelle Omamo's Foreign Affairs ministry to all diplomatic corps, says it “bears the sole prerogative to coordinate election-related needs and resources gaps that may call for partnership.”
The ministry said it would initiate the calls for engagement with external entities, including development partners that support IEBC’s work.
“This will be communicated officially through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the memo to all diplomatic missions, accredited international organizations, and other foreign entities domiciled in Nairobi reads.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs further wants foreign entities already engaged in any activities related to the 2022 General Election to inform it of the same.
“…to inform the ministry through official diplomatic channels at the earliest opportunity in order to formalize such arrangements,” the ministry said.
This would be in respect to organisations working through government institutions – such as the IEBC, ministries, state departments and agencies, civil society organisations, community-based organisations, faith-based organisations and the media.
Kenya says it has taken the step to avert interference by foreign entities in the management of elections and poll outcomes.
“Kenya is cognizant of recently orchestrated events and experiences meant to interfere and sometimes lead to skewed national election outcomes globally,” the letter reads.
“Aware of Kenya’s own experience in matters general elections, the ministry wishes to affirm that it shares the serious concerns of many countries around such interference which globally undermines democracy and weakens trust among nations,” the MFA said.
The ministry revealed there was significant interest from embassies, missions and international organisations in Nairobi and abroad that are keen on providing support for the elections.
IEBC has for some time been working with the United Nations Development Programme and a consortium of foreign-funded technical experts to bankroll some of its activities.
Chairman Wafula Chebukati has sounded the alarm that the Sh26 billion provided by the National Treasury will not be sufficient for the 2022 polls.
The commission unveiled a Sh40 billion budget, part of which will be for the purchase of items to help contain Covid-19 spread during elections.
At the same time, the IEBC has set tough campaign financing laws, among them provisions setting the stage for scrutiny of cash inflows into political parties.
Political parties and candidates will be required to show the full value of money they receive from donors, the full name and address of the donor as well as the nature of the organisation, if not from an individual.
IEBC further seeks to cap contributions from a single source at 20 per cent of total contributions received by a candidate or political party.
Reports revealing that the British High Commission in Kenya had selected a consortium led by the US-based International Foundation for Electoral Systems to deliver the elections support programme in 2022 unsettled a number of stakeholders.
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said the award “followed an open, competitive and rigorous selection process.”
A spokesman at the British High Commission said the programme aimed at providing technical support “to build on lessons learned and improve standards to help strengthen the democratic process.”
But local civil society organisations are jittery over the involvement of foreign entities in providing technical support in the elections, citing their failure in 2007, 2013, and 2017 elections.
The non-state actors have over time asked the government to bar organizations with questionable repute from participating in IEBC capacity building for 2022.
Edited by Henry Makori