EU to observe elections in Kenya

The EU is sending an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Kenya, in view of the Presidential, National Assembly and Civic elections, scheduled for 27 December 2002. External Relations Commissioner Christopher Patten has appointed Anders Wijkman MEP as Chief Observer . The deployment of the EOM follows an invitation from Kenyan Foreign Minister, H.E. Marsden Madoka, on 7 October 2002 and is a concrete expression of EU's efforts to support the consolidation of democracy in Kenya. The Commission funding decision for € 1.8m was adopted on 22 November.

The EOM started its activity with the arrival of a Core Team of 9 experts in Nairobi on 26 November, 20 Long-Term Observers (LTOs) will join the mission to be deployed throughout the country to follow the election campaign and administrative preparations for election. Closer to election day, on 22 December, a further contingent of about 100 Short-Term Observers (STOs) will also join the mission to follow the last phase of the election campaign, the poll, count and aggregation of results.

The EOM will assess the entire election process, including the legal and political framework, the campaign, the voting and counting, as well as the post-election period. The EOM will issue a preliminary statement shortly after Election Day and a Final report assessing the entire electoral process about a month after the end of the mission.

EOMs consider the following criteria in reaching conclusions on the election process:

• The degree of impartiality shown by the relevant Election Commission and election officials
  
  
• The degree of freedom of political parties and candidates to organise, move, assemble and express their views publicly
  
  
• The fairness of access to State resources made available for the election
  
  
• The fairness of access for political parties and candidates to the media in particular to the State media
  
  
• Issues concerning the essential freedom and fairness of the election
  
  
• The conduct of polling and counting of votes

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