ELECTION INTEGRITY

18,000 observers to monitor Tuesday's poll

The 2017 polls had over 5,000 election observers and international journalists

In Summary
  • Chairman Wafula Chebukati said close to 1,300 international observers will monitor the polls, while the rest are local.

  • He said there are more observers than the number of candidates participating in this year’s election.

IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati during a past event.
POLL OBSERVERS: IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati during a past event.
Image: FILE

At least 18,000 observers will monitor the general election on Tuesday.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission said it cleared both local and international observers.

Chairman Wafula Chebukati said close to 1,300 international observers will monitor the polls, while the rest are local.

He said there are more observers than the number of candidates participating in this year’s election.

There are 16,098 candidates in the polls with four eyeing the presidency. The rest have been cleared to vie for the 290 parliamentary slots, Senate (47), governor (47) and 1,450 member of county assembly positions.

In the 2017, there were more than 5,000 election observers and international journalists monitoring the election.

The law mandates the commission to facilitate observation, monitoring and evaluation of election.

The European Union Election Observation Mission is among the international organisations that deployed a delegation to observe the polls.

Former Tanzanian president Jakaya Kikwete will head the 52-member East African Community election observation mission to Kenya.

The observers have been taken through what will be needed of them during election day.

Some 22 million registered voters will head to the polls to elect their leaders.

Independent election observers enhance the legitimacy of the electoral processes, as well as the outcome.

Their reports provide an objective critique of an electoral process, giving recommendations on how best the commission could improve on future management of election, hence increase election integrity.

For instance, the objectives of AU-COMESA are to assess the conduct of the 2022 general election and promote democracy and democratic election in Africa, in line with their overall vision of a peaceful, prosperous and integrated Africa.

After the assessment is carried out, the group will issue its interim statement of preliminary findings on August 11.

IEBC says their guidelines bind the observers in a code of conduct that requires them to be neutral and not to interfere with the election.

(Edited by Bilha Makokha)

“WATCH: The latest videos from the Star”
WATCH: The latest videos from the Star