A British lawmaker has ridiculed Kenya stating elections in Somaliland were far much better than those conducted on October 26.
Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith termed Kenya’s election standoff between the ruling party Jubilee and the opposition, NASA as “total chaos”.
The British MP made the remarks on Wednesday when he addressed the House of Parliament during Prime Minister’s Time.
He seized the opportunity to jibe Kenya and Zimbabwe’s democracies respectively while he lauded Somaliland, a former British protectorate.
Goldsmith asserted that elections in Somaliland were free, fair and credible compared to what Kenya’s repeat presidential polls offered.
“…With direct help from this country, from our government, the national election commission in that country has conducted a template election described by the international observer mission as peaceful, transparent, fair and totally uncontested,” said Goldsmith according to Daily Nation.
He added: “With recent events in Zimbabwe and total electoral chaos now in Kenya, will the prime minister join me in celebrating the hugely successful election this week in Somaliland?”
However, Prime Minister Theresa May side-stepped Kenya’s elections debate and instead, hailed Somaliland for the peaceful elections conducted.
“My honourable friend raises an important issue. This government is pleased with the work that we have done to support the government in Somalia to ensure that we can see those elections take place in the way that my honourable friend has said,” said the British PM.
Goldsmith’s line of thought is similar to that of Kenya’s opposition leader, Raila Odinga.
Raila has dismissed the repeat presidential election as a sham.
He has vowed not to recognize President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory which has been challenged at the Supreme Court.
A six-judge bench led by Chief Justice David Maraga is expected to give a ruling on Monday next week.