Joint Statement by Heads of Mission in Kenya on International Support for Kenya’s 2017 Elections

Ambassador Robert F. Godec (holding a microphone) address journalists in Nairobi during a past event. PHOTO: FILE

Nairobi, Kenya – As long-time partners, our countries support the Kenyan government and people as they seek to realize the goals of the 2010 Constitution and Kenya’s Vision 2030.  We are committed to helping Kenya to hold free, fair, credible, and peaceful elections in 2017, and to provide non-partisan technical assistance to government institutions and civil society.  We do this because effective democracies depend not just on government institutions, but on non-governmental institutions as well.  A free media and independent civil society both have critical roles to play in democracies.

To be clear, we do not provide electoral assistance to any organization, governmental or non-governmental, to influence the election results for any side, political party, or candidate.  Rather, our assistance supports the Kenyan people to independently exercise their right to vote and have their voice heard.  The Kenyan people alone have the sovereign right to choose their leaders, and we fully respect this right.