The mission called out the Opposition, Nasa, for imposing excessive demands on the electoral commission, IEBC, and faulted Jubilee government for pushing to amend electoral laws just ahead of the October 26 polls.
Nasa, among other demands, is seeking removal of IEBC chief executive Ezra Chiloba, whom they brand as the fall guy for the August 8 Presidential election that the Supreme Court nullified.
The European Union election observation mission has joined the growing list of western nations that have asked President Uhuru Kenyatta’s party and opposition Raila Odinga’s Nasa coalition to withdraw their tough demands ahead of the repeat polls.
The mission called out the Opposition, Nasa, for imposing excessive demands on the electoral commission, IEBC, and faulted Jubilee government for pushing to amend electoral laws just ahead of the October 26 polls.
“Excessive demands, which cannot be met by the IEBC, place an extraordinary burden on the institution and escalate tension and antagonism in the election,” the EU mission said in a statement.
Nasa, among other demands, is seeking removal of IEBC chief executive Ezra Chiloba, whom they brand as the fall guy for the August 8 Presidential election that the Supreme Court nullified.
Late amendments
“Late amendments to electoral legislation risk being politically polarising, undermining the predictability of law, reducing the quality of legislation and generating implementation problems,” the mission said.
“It is good practice for the fundamental elements of an electoral process to be legally finalised at least one year before an election.”
A group of envoys from 14 western nations, including the US and UK on Monday also warned the contending parties against political grandstanding, saying this would invite sanctions against culpable individuals.
