1. Following an invitation by the Government of the Republic of Kenya, the East African Community (EAC) gladly accepted and has deployed an Election Mission to Kenya with effect from 1st August, 2010. This Mission will continue to follow all the electoral activities up to the conclusion.
2. Article 5 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC provides, among others, that the EAC Partner States shall co-operate in a broad range of the identified areas of cooperation, including co-operation in political matters, which include among other things, the electoral processes in the context of democracy and good governance.
3. Our coming to the Partner State of Kenya therefore, is of mutual interest and benefit to the region in terms of picking best practices in electoral management as well as comparing notes and sharing electoral experiences from other Member States of the EAC. Our aim is to see continued improvement in the management of electoral processes in the East African region.
4. The EAC Observer Mission came to Nairobi to consult and discuss with various stakeholders including the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK); leaders of political parties; civil society groups; journalists; academia and opinion leaders on the forthcoming referendum in Kenya. These consultations will provide greater understanding and appreciation of the context within which the referendum will be conducted.
5. Hereafter the EAC Election Observer Mission will be deployed to all provinces of Kenya i.e. Nairobi, Central, Eastern, Coast, Rift Valley, Nyanza, Western and North Eastern provinces. While there, the EAC Observer Mission will witness the referendum process in sampled areas.
6. This Referendum Observer Mission is led by Hon. Leonce Ndarubagiye, Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) from Burundi. Other members in the delegation include: Hon. Nusura Tiperu Omar, EALA; Hon. Dr. Said Bilal, EALA, Hon. Francois Bizimana EALA; Mr. Kaguta Didacus, Peace and Security Officer, EAC Secretariat; Mr. Musiime Enock, Research Officer, EALA. The EAC Referendum Observer Mission will be in Kenya up to the end of referendum process.
7. It is the culture of EAC as an intergovernmental organisation to send an observer mission whenever Partner States hold elections of any sort, and therefore EAC has previously observed electoral processes in the member states of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi.
8. At the end of the referendum process, the EAC observation mission will prepare an objective and neutral report highlighting the best practices as well as areas that need improvement in the management of Kenyan electoral process.
9. We therefore wish the people of Kenya a peaceful referendum.
Thank you
By: Head of Delegation
Hon. Leonce Ndarubagiye.
