Commonwealth sends Observers to Kenya elections

The Commonwealth Observer Group (COG) to the forthcoming General Elections in Kenya will be led by Dr Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, former President of Sierra Leone, Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon has announced.

The COG for the elections, which are scheduled to take place on 27 December 2007, will be composed of 13 eminent persons drawn from 11 Commonwealth countries.

The Observers will be in Kenya from 18 December to 1 January 2008.

Announcing the composition of the COG, Mr McKinnon said that the mandate of the Group is to “determine in its own judgement whether the elections have been conducted according to the standards for democratic elections to which Kenya has committed itself, with reference to national election related legislation and relevant regional, Commonwealth and other international commitments.”

The COG has been constituted at the invitation of the Government of Kenya. It also follows an Assessment Mission which was in Kenya in October 2007.

The Assessment Mission established that there exists broad support from political parties and civil society for the presence of Commonwealth Observers. The Mission also concluded that there is full freedom of movement for Observers and they will enjoy access to all stages of the process – which is vital if they are to make judgements on its credibility.

The COG will be supported by a staff team from the Commonwealth Secretariat led by Ayodele Oke, who will shortly take up position as the Head of Africa Section in the Political Affairs Division.

The rest of the Commonwealth Observer Group comprises: Mabel Adinya Ade-Torsoo, National Co-ordinator, Transitional Monitoring Group, Nigeria; Calvin Benn, Deputy Chief Election Officer, Guyana; Max Caller, Electoral Commissioner, UK; Paul East, Barrister, New Zealand; Ewan Nigel Hare, former Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, Canada; Feroz Hassan, Chair, Coalition for Good Governance, Bangladesh; Justice Irene Chirwa Mambilima, Chairperson, Electoral Commission, Zambia; Pierre Paul Martin, Election Expert, Canada; Marie Neilson, Electoral Officer, Australia; Dr Ana Rita Geremias Sithole, Member of Parliament, Mozambique; Barbara Morunrayo Soetan, Commonwealth Youth Representative, UK; and Margaret Rita Vagi, Director, Electoral Commission, Papua New Guinea.

The Observer Group is to act impartially and independently and shall conduct itself according to the standards expressed in the International Declaration of Principles to which the Commonwealth is a signatory.

Key Links:

• Democracy
• Country Profile: Kenya