IGAD head Election Observation Mission Dr Mulatu Teshome arrived in Kenya on Tuesday ahead of August 9 election.
Teshome, the former president of Ethiopia, will lead seven core staff and 24 short-term observers of IGAD’s short-term Election Observation Mission (IGADEOM).
In a statement on Tuesday, IGAD said Teshome will hold meetings with senior officials, key national and international stakeholders as well as heads of other election observation missions to brief them about their mandate.
“The IGAD Short-term Election Observation Mission (IGADEOM) that was constituted in response to an invitation by the Republic of Kenya, is composed of 7 core staff and 24 short-term observers.
“The short-term observers include representatives of electoral bodies and other public institutions as well as diplomats drawn from six IGAD member states, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda,” the statement said.
Head of IGAD Election Observation Mission H.E. Dr. Mulatu Teshome arrives in Kenya.
He will meet with senior officials and other national and international key stakeholders to brief them about the mission.
Read more:https://t.co/lLpPkLXOf8
— IGAD Secretariat (@igadsecretariat) August 2, 2022
A joint pre-election assessment mission preceded the observation mission, IGAD added.
“IGAD conducted the assessment mission alongside the African Union, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the East African Community to the Republic of Kenya from 25 June to 25 July 2022. The assessment mission appraised the level of election preparedness in the country with the intention to provide support for a peaceful, free, and credible election,” the statement added.
The deployment of the IGADEOM in Kenya is in line with IGAD’s mandate of promoting good governance, democracy, human rights and rule of law in the region.
IGAD Secretariat added that the move is also guided by relevant continental instruments such as the 2007 African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, as well as the IGAD Guideline and code of conduct for Election Observers.
“The objective of the IGAD Election Observation Mission is to make an independent, objective and impartial assessment of the 9 August 2022 general elections in the Republic of Kenya in accordance with the national, regional and international standards for democratic elections,” it said.
IGAD’s observer team adds to others, which include those from the EAC, the AU, Comesa region and the European Union.
EAC observer mission to assess Kenya’s preparedness, compliance in election
