Besigye to launch book on events surrounding elections

Ugandan Opposition leader, Dr Kiza Besigye to launch a book.

Ugandan Opposition leader, Dr Kiza Besigye, will today launch a book on last year’s General Election.

Besigye will give the keynote address at the launch of the book, ‘Kenya: The Failed Quest for Electoral Justice,’ written by journalist John Onyando through a grant from the Kenya Human Rights Commission.

The author gives insight into the political events around the 2017 elections and concludes that what should have been Kenya’s free and fair vote turned out to be the most tainted of the multiparty era.

“The elections were so flawed that their true account would be established only through an independent audit, such as the one led by former South African Judge Johann Kriegler into the 2007 elections,” Mr Onyando said in a statement to the media.

The writer, who was a communication official in NASA, also reports that while Opposition chief Raila Odinga was popular, his campaign secretariat was too dysfunctional to deliver victory.

In supporting the book’s writing, the Kenya Human Rights Commission sought to rekindle national dialogue on the shortcomings of the 2017 elections, which have faded after the handshake and clamour for 2022 elections.

Besigye will speak about democratic recession in the Horn of Africa and what East Africa can do to achieve free and fair elections and prosperity for citizens. The Forum for Democratic Change party leader in Uganda will later hold talks with Opposition leaders among others.

Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, political leaders and lawyers are expected to attend the book launch.