Thursday, January 10, 2013

Rights watchdog to monitor party primaries


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The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights CEO Patricia Nyaundi (left) during a meeting with political parties January 10, 2013. The commission stated it would monitor party nominations and would not tolerate indiscipline among candidates. To the right is Alliance Party of Kenya Secretary General Beatrice Elachi. EMMA NZIOKA
The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights CEO Patricia Nyaundi (left) during a meeting with political parties January 10, 2013. The commission stated it would monitor party nominations and would not tolerate indiscipline among candidates. To the right is Alliance Party of Kenya Secretary General Beatrice Elachi. EMMA NZIOKA  
By LILLIAN ONYANGO laonyango@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Thursday, January 10  2013 at  13:11
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A government human rights watchdog wants political parties to make public nominations centres as it plans to monitor the primaries.
Kenya National Commission on Human Rights CEO Patricia Nyaundi on Thursday said the move is part of its greater plan in monitoring the March 4 General Election.
Speaking to the media moments after concluding a meeting with political parties’ electoral boards at their Nairobi offices, Ms Nyaundi said a number of other commissions have expressed interest in supporting their cause in safeguarding a peaceful election.
She said representatives of the parties who attended the meeting agreed to make public the centres in which they will conduct their nominations "at the earliest opportunity".
“In our meeting with the parties’ we emphasised to them that the commissions and agencies monitoring these nominations are very serious and it is our commitment that as we move towards the elections we are not prepared to accommodate indiscipline as far as party nominations are concerned,” she said.
Also, she said the January 17 date for nominations for a number of parties “raises potential conflict” particularly if the use the centres.
“Especially in major cities such as Nairobi, Mombasa, Nakuru and Kisumu, we see real potential for conflict if these highly contested nominations are held in the same centres. We have appealed to them to make a decision on that,” Ms Nyaundi said.
The Commission Secretary warned that stern action will be taken against any party that will be found in breach of the principles and requirements of law and will be working with the Inspector General of Police, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, the Director of Public Prosecution and the Elections Observations Group - Elog.
“So that moving towards the General Election, we are sure that those whose names appear on the ballot papers are people who respect the rule of law,” she said.
Among the concerns raised by the parties at the meeting was participation in the exercise.
“We are joining them as a Commission to ask employers to make it possible for Kenyans in employment to be able to attend the nomination by giving them a day off,” Ms Nyaundi said.
KNCHR and Elog will post monitors to the polling centres to keep an eye on voting during nominations and the March 4 election day. Those found caught violating the law risk being disqualified by the IEBC and getting arrest and charged.
Also at the briefing was Alliance Party of Kenya Secretary General Beatrice Elachi who said her party will cooperate with the Commission.
She also called on politicians to refrain from using bribes during the campaigns, avoid breaking the law and to engage in clean politics.
“Politicians, even in our party, should not use the government vehicles during the campaigns as it has been prohibited in law.
"At that time your ministerial post is put aside. If you do, you could be taken to court and should not complain to officials of political parties,” Ms Elachi said.

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