Experts call for reforms before elections

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Experts call for reforms before elections
Memoscar Lasuba | September 4, 2017 | 3:33 pm
CEPO's Edmond Yakani and NCAC's Gichara Kibara

A civil society activist and an expert have called for a critical
review of the timeline of the peace agreement before the country
organizes any elections.

They say that the call for elections next year is unrealistic
considering the challenges affecting the country.

Last week, the Minister of Information, Michael Makuei said that
general elections will be held as stipulated in the 2015 peace deal.

Mr. Makuei said it was possible to hold presidential and constituents
elections in the country when the transitional period elapse.

He said the displacements of people to the neighboring countries will
not affect the turnout during the elections, adding that each person
is free to return home at any time of their choosing.

However, the Executive Director of the Community Empowerment Progress
for Organization, Edmond Yakani says the foreseen conditions in the
country cannot allow for credible elections to take place.

“What ]the] honorable Minister has said is in line with the agreement,
but in terms of the current context, it is still a challenge and
critical, because we still have the presence of armed groups that may
take advantage of the elections and jeopardize element of
credibility,” said Yakani.

“We are requesting right now the extension of the transition period
and the elections.”

Mr. Yakani says key provisions for elections to take place, such as
reforms of the electoral laws and the political parties act have not
been done.

“If we could have gone into a stable situation, things like
reconstitution of the National Election Commission, reforming the
Electoral Law, reforming the Political Parties Act [would have been]
done,” he added.

The Chairperson of the National Constitutional Amendment Committee,
Gichira Kibara earlier said proper preparations are needed for any
elections to take place.

He said political parties need to reorganize and create a conducive
environment that will enable free and fair polls to take place.

“We have advised them to look at the timeline so that they agree on
what is do-able within what time, because obviously if you are to do
proper elections, you must register political parties, you must
[allow] them to prepare themselves,” said Mr. Kibara.

Last month, a policy analyst told Eye Radio that it would not feasible
to conduct elections within the remaining timeframe of the agreement,
arguing that the country would need to mobilize resources for setting
up electoral commission offices across the 32 states, and conduct the
population census.

He said these steps would require a huge sum of money and donor support.