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UN expert – Global issues

Community space, community participation, fundamental freedoms, and a violence-free environment are critical to promoting inclusive participation. in the electoral process and the exercise of political rights,” emphasized experts in a press release from the United Nations human rights office. OHCHRas the East African nation prepares to go to the polls on August 9.

Political tensions during the election campaign, as well as hate speech by candidates and their supporters, have the dangerous potential to fan the flames of violence, experts say.

They call on all parties to uphold their right to political participation, freedom of assembly, opinion and expression, and respect for the role of an independent judiciary.

Behavior rules

All participants in the electoral process must commit to peaceful acts before, during and after the election. Candidates and political parties must refrain from using inflammatory language that could lead to violence and human rights violations, especially against women, people with disabilities, LGBTIQ individuals or ethnic groups +,” they said.

Kenya has a history of contested elections and political violence, Experts note:

In the aftermath of 2007 ballot, more than 1,000 people were killed and 350,000 displaced in ethnic riots. Both then rival presidential candidates Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto were called to International Criminal Court (ICC) face charges crimes against humanity. The charges against Mr. Kenyatta were eventually reduced, and Mr. Ruto’s case was dismissed.

Lack of accountability

“The perpetrators of human rights abuses in the past elections are not yet responsible“The experts noted.

Concerned about the impact of repeated violence in previous elections denying the right to political participation – especially for women candidates and voters – independent experts have called for Kenyan rights ensures that everyone can participate freely in the electoral process, without discrimination.

At the same time, activists, human rights defenders, election monitors and journalists should be allowed work without intimidation or retaliation. “They play an important role in elections to contribute to a free and inclusive electoral process as well as the reliability of the results,“Experts recall, applauding the authorities’ commitment to limit outages during election time.

Familiar face

The leading candidates are former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who has been endorsed by former rival and incumbent president, Mr. Kenyatta, and Mr. Ruto, who is now vice-president.

Kenya’s electoral law requires a presidential candidate to win more than 50% of the vote to win outright. This presidential election will be Kenya’s third election under the constitution established in 2010.

The independent rights experts who issued the statement received their mandate from the UN Dong Nhan Quyen Associationbased in Geneva.

They operate as individuals and are not employees of the United Nations, nor are they paid for their work.

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