Remain Calm As You Vote on Thursday, the US Urges Kenyans

The United States has urged Kenyans to remain calm and reject violence as they exercise their constitutional right of voting at Thursday’s repeat presidential election.

“The United States urges all Kenyans to remain calm, reject violence, and uphold the principles of their Constitution in the election scheduled for tomorrow,” read a statement released on Wednesday by the State Department.

The US says it is concerned about the efforts of political parties to interfere with and undermine the independent operation of government bodies. “We are deeply concerned about the continuing efforts of both parties to interfere with and undermine the independent operation of the electoral commission, the judiciary, and other essential institutions. We also condemn the attack on the bodyguard of the Deputy Chief Justice.”

The US also calls for an open and transparent dialogue between all parties and the IEBC to resolve issues, adding that “now is not the time for strife to divide Kenya, it is a time for all Kenyans to come together.”

Kenyans head out to the repeat presidential poll on Thursday, even as the NASA coalition led by Raila Odinga on Wednesday vowed to boycott the election. NASA has  protested participating in the election on claims that the IEBC cannot deliver a free and credible election as directed by the Supreme Court when the court nullified by August 8th presidential election and ordered a new vote.