The United States government has called on Kenya to hold a free, fair, credible and verifiable election when the country goes to the polls on August 9.



US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on Thursday, June 9, stated that America welcomed the decision by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to clear four candidates to contest the top seat.

Blinken affirmed the the US will be keeping an eye on the election, recalling a conversation he had with Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary, Ambassador Raychelle Omamo.

In addition, the US Secretary called on IEBC and the candidates - Deputy President William Ruto, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, George Luchiri Wajackoya and David Mwaure to run peaceful campaigns.
"We welcome IEBC’s certification of candidates for Kenya’s August 9 General Election and the beginning of the electoral campaigns.

"As I said to Kenyan Cabinet Secretary, Omamo, last month, the United States stands with Kenyans in support of free, fair, and peaceful elections," the Secretary of State stated.

While ensuring that the peaceful campaigns is a collective responsibility for all stakeholders, IEBC is constitutionally mandated to ensure that the electoral process is transparent.

The statement by Blinken comes days after DP Ruto told Ambassadors from the European Union that the names of one million voters from his strongholds had been deleted from the IEBC voter register, allegations the commission's Chairman, Wafula Chebukati, has since denied.

On the other hand, the Azimio flagbearer, while presenting his papers for clearance, presented Chebukati with 11 critical concerns that he felt needed to be addressed before the polls. Nonetheless, both Raila and Ruto expressed confidence in IEBC's execution of its mandate.

Addressing concerns raised on the role of technology in the election, the electoral body on Thursday, June 9, conducted a simulation exercise at the Bomas of Kenya on how the results will be transmitted.

On June 9, IEBC noted that it would de-activate 1.1 names from the voter register following preliminary reports on an audit conducted by KPMG on the voter register. These included duplicate and invalid entries, and names of deceased voters.

The Kenyan presidential election is a matter of great international concern. Regionally, it is looked up upon as a leader in democracy and is monitored worldwide by the US, the United Kingdom and the East.