Diplomats from the US, UK, Canada and EU have threatened to sanction Kenyan politicians who spew hatred and tribal animosity ahead of October 26 repeat polls.
Speaking on Monday, the envoys led by US Ambassador Robert Godec said politicians from both divides will be slapped with travel bans, denial of visas if they are seen to be issuing divisive talks.
“We are watching what’s happening and if and when appropriate, we will take steps under US law to hold people accountable. There are many different potential measures we can take and I am not going to get into that speculation but I will say obviously visa bans and other travel measures are one possibility,” said Godec as told by Daily Nation.
They met IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati together with commissioners Roselyn Akombe and Richard Kurgat.
United Kingdom’s deputy ambassador Susan Kitchens noted that: “We are also watching carefully and anyone who is found to be inciting or engaging in violence must be held accountable and that should be done by Kenyan institutions. We are following too and the UK reserves the right to take appropriate action which may include refusing visas.”
The envoys urged President Uhuru Kenyatta and National Super Alliance leader Raila Odinga to stop undermining the IEBC.
They took issues with Jubilee’s move to change electoral laws just a few days to the repeat elections.
“It is international best practice not to make changes to electoral laws without broad political agreement.
If everyone were to agree on changes that needed to be made, that would be fine but at the moment, we would encourage everyone to look at international best practice and work together to bring the election and make it free, fair and credible and peaceful and hold it in the constitutional manner,” said Godec
They said both political divides are not living up to the spirit of growing Kenya’s democracy but watering down its gains.
“The “Election Laws Amendment Bill,” for example, puts at risk the IEBC’s ability to conduct a better election within the mandated 60-day timeline, and unnecessarily increases political tensions,” read a statement.
The envoys’ problem with the changes to electoral law is the timing citing “Wise reforms to an established electoral process take time. They require thoughtful reflection and broad agreement from all parties. Well-established international best practice is to avoid changes to electoral rules just prior to an election.”
Jubilee’s William Cheptumo (Baringo North) is sponsoring the Amendments to Electoral Law, IEBC Act and Election Offences Act.
The changes will address shortcomings within the transmission system where more power has been given to manually transmitted results over electronic transmitted results.
Further, the role of the IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati has come under sharp focus as the Bill seeks to make radical changes on aspects touching on his office.
By Pharis Kinyua. He’s an online Journalist and an author for Jamhuri News