Former Botswana president Festus Mogae will lead the Commonwealth observer group for Kenya’s upcoming general elections, the group announced late Tuesday.
Commonwealth secretary-general Patricia Scotland said Mogae would lead a 20-member observer mission to be deployed on August 2 at the invitation of Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
“I am grateful to President Mogae and all observers for accepting this important assignment, as we continue to promote and protect electoral democracy – and the right of individuals to participate in processes which shape their societies through credible, inclusive and transparent elections – in line with the Commonwealth Charter,” Scotland said.
Kenyans are due to go to the polls on August 9 to elect a president and members of parliament.
Scotland said the deployment of the observer mission followed a visit by a Commonwealth pre-election assessment team in April.
“Election observation is an essential component of our efforts to support member countries to strengthen the processes, culture and institutions of democracy, and to enable citizen participation and representation at all levels.”
Ahead of the observer mission’s arrival, an advance team from the Commonwealth will arrive on July 16 to meet key stakeholders such as the election management body, political parties, civil society groups, media and other international observers.
The Commonwealth observer group would be supported by a team from the Commonwealth Secretariat led by deputy secretary-general Arjoon Suddhoo.
JN/APA