Increase elections voting days to prevent fatigue, says observer group

Pius Masai, President of PIMAC International with board members and staff while addressing the media at Rabi Hotel along Limuru Road in Nairobi on Thursday. (James Wanzala,Standard).

There is a need to change the election law to allow general election days to be increased from the normal one on  August 9 of every year to two or three days.

This is to prevent fatigue of electoral staff and also give more time to all Kenyans, who might have  missed the first day opportunity to vote and also avoid long queues that are usually witnessed during the election day.

There is also a need to exhibit a high standard of electoral integrity, security, professionalism and  political maturity during voting time to avoid incidences of violence, damage to properties and other vote-related malpractices the way its witnessed in Kenya.

These are some of recommendations contained in a preliminary report that were observed by PIMAC International  in partnership with the Dipendra Kandel (DK) Initiative of India, during the seven days voting at the Sweden Embassy in Kenya.

The voting was  for the Riksdag (Swedish parliament) and regional and municipal councils.

“The voters are received as at reception like guests, given tea or coffee with snacks and guided as necessary.  The election  process was only for five hours each day, officials were working in three shifts and no one was tired and complaining,” said Pius Masai, President of PIMAC International.

PIMAC International is a Kenyan organisation that specialises in safety training, disaster management and election observation.

Masai, a retired senior police officer and former Deputy Director of the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU) spoke on Thursday in Nairobi.

He was  responding whether he recommends more voting days for Kenya and Africa instead of just one just like it happened at the Sweden Embassy.

He added: “Spreading the election for a number of days is very important because there is time for people who work till late to come and vote and if he or she misses the first day, he or she can come the second or that day. Kenya and Africa can adopt several days of voting and will reduce voting time like two to three minutes the way we saw and allow people to go and do other things. Let us not have people staying till late helping in voting and go to tally votes leaving polling centres the next day and .”

Kenya’s Constitution on Article 101 provides that Members of Parliament are elected “on the second Tuesday in August in every fifth year.

This applies also to the President, governors, senators and Members of County Assembly (MCAs) are all elected on the same day under Articles 136, 177 and 180 of the Constitution.

The elections which seek to elect the 349 members of the Riksdag, are happening across Sweden’s embassies across the world have been taking place since August 26 and will end on September 13 with elections of the Prime Minister.

According to Masai, who was  the Chief Mission Leader for Africa, East Africa, and Kenya,   almost 50 observers were involved on observing the elections that started on Saturday 29 and ended on Thursday 3 at around 2pm.

“There is need to emulate such kind of political maturity as witnessed at the elections. There was no violence, canvassing since everybody came knowing who he or she wants to elect and the process was transparent, verifiable and peaceful. The way the election officials received the voters in a friendly way, gave them snacks and tea and sensitised on what happens inside there and one by one they voted,” said Masai.

Masai, who was flanked by PIMAC International board members, said he hopes the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC) will invite them to share their experience from the elections.

PIMAC International board member Maricella Andanje said she was pleased to see that there was no canvassing even children of the voters were catered for, thus giving parents time to vote.

“The children accompanied their parents and were given a special place to play as their guardians voted. Bringing the children also helped them know what happens during elections as they prepare to be future voters,” said Ms Andanje.

She added: “The officers who were manning the elections were professional and kind, which is worthy emulating. It is also very possible to use very little during the tallying. Imagine all the vehicles and people that gather at Bomas of Kenya, that number can be reduced and save a lot of money.”

Masai appealed to the Swedish Election Authority, the Government of the Kingdom of Sweden, the IEBC and the