The US government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that Kenya’s next general election is free, fair, and peaceful.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken praised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for overseeing a seamless vetting process for candidates intending to run in the August 9th election in a statement released on Thursday.
“We applaud the IEBC’s certification of candidates for Kenya’s general election on August 9th, as well as the start of the electoral campaign. The United States stands with Kenyans in favor of free, fair, and peaceful elections, as I told Kenyan Cabinet Secretary Omamo last month “Blinken said in a tweet.
For the past few weeks, the IEBC has been assessing and approving the eligibility of candidates for various elective seats.
Several candidates were disqualified for a variety of reasons, including lack of academic qualifications, integrity difficulties, and failing to follow stipulated deadlines, such as resigning from public office.
Only four candidates were authorized from a list of more over 50 presidential aspirants on June 7, with William Ruto, Raila Odinga, Prof. George Wajackoyah, and David MWaura receiving approval.
Meanwhile, the election commission is conducting a voter registration audit.
Chebukati announced on Wednesday that the voter registration will be published on June 20, not June 9, 2022, as previously announced.
