Why Nasa is wary of international election observer missions

The happenings in the run up to, during and after the August 8, 2017 General Election provided a new chapter on the role of international observers in polls in Kenya. Election observers have a basic role. They are tasked to monitor and assess the conduct of election as independent party.

During the August 8 poll, such missions included the African Union, European Union, the Commonwealth nations and the United States-based- Carter Centre among others.

Just a month after the election, Supreme Court judges David Maraga (Chief Justice), Philomena Mwilu, Njoki Ndung’u, Jacktone Ojwang, Dr Smokin Wanjala, Isaac Lenaola arrived at a majority 4-2 verdict that annulled the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta. The same court had upheld Uhuru’s victory about five years ago. Ms. Ndung’u and Prof Ojwang’ dissented.

The net effect of the ruling left high profile observers including former US Secretary of State John Kerry, former presidents Thabo Mbeki (South Africa) and Ghana’s John Mahama with egg on their faces.

The teeming lot of observers endorsed a deeply flawed election that was not verifiable, fraudulent and not reflective of the will of the people who voted. The fact is that that group of former leaders are either too ashamed to return or are busy trying to explain their roles.

Partisan views

Kerry’s comments that were even quoted in the court proceedings endorsed the election as “free, fair and credible”. Their stint as observers goes into annals of history as arguably the worst by international missions in recent times.

If elections are digital, then observers cannot use analogue approaches to test fairness, transparency and accountability. They too must go digital or simply fail in their missions.

The perceived partisan statements from international observer missions concern several elected leaders and representatives of the people in opposition ranks.

The level of involvement of Kerry and Carter Centre in particular to rubber-stamp a fraudulent process in a partisan manner in favour Jubilee Party is worrying. Kerry even uttered words, which urged Kenyans not to picket; a right which is enshrined in the Kenyan Constitution.

What remains peculiar is how observers were quick to dismiss charges of irregularity. Ordinarily we would expect observers to stay neutral, advise public with informed credible information and to voice concerns where rights of people are infringed, and murders are committed through use of excessive force in the period before voting, during and after exercise of the universal suffrage.

Opposition leaders were alarmed that innocent picketing peaceful Kenyans were greeted with brute force and shot dead in Kisumu, Mathare, Lucky Summer, Kariobangi, including six-month-old baby Pendo and 11-year-old Moraa Nyarangi. Young Nyarangi was felled in Mathare by a bullet manufactured by Kenya Armed Forces Ordinance Factory in Eldoret. Siaya County was visited with brute police force, leaving dozens injured.

In all these, observers remained peculiarly silent and pressured NASA leaders to concede ‘defeat.’

Opposition ranks feel the international observers failed to act with goodwill and good faith and we are concerned it will not be a neutral observer in the fresh elections slated for October 17 even after top diplomatic missions said it has no preferred candidate.

Unwelcome observers

The general feeling within Nasa ranks is that John Kerry and particularly the Carter Centre, the African Union mission are not welcome if they will second the same officials who were quick to back a fraudulently elected leadership to monitor the repeat elections.

As NASA leaders, we are keen on knowing what role the diplomatic missions will be playing in the repeat election.

We expect to see goodwill and good faith in the conduct of the AU, US, UK, EU, Canadian or any other meaningful missions.

Such engagements must not leave the public suspecting partisan roles but win confidence that they can watch over ills committed during the electioneering period and recommend better action in successive elections.

Going forward, we expect US-Kenya relations to be better. Past American envoys in Kenya like Smith Hempstone, Aurelia Brazeal, Johnny Carson and Michael Ranneberger were steadfast in supporting democracy, good governance and free, fair credible and accountable elections.

In the same measure were UK’s Edward Clay, Kieran Prendegast and Christian Turner among others.

We cannot expect anything less from envoys Robert Godec of US and Nick Hailey of the United Kingdom.

Mr. Atandi is the MP for Alego-Usonga Constituency, Siaya [email protected]