The United Nations has warned the National Super Alliance (NASA) against boycotting the October 26th Presidential election following presidential candidate Raila Odinga's declaration that there will be no election if their demands on electoral reforms are not met.
In a dispatch attributed to the Director-General of the United Nations Office at Nairobi (UNON) Sahle-Work Zewde, the body stated: “Free, transparent and credible elections are the only democratic ways to enable Kenyans to choose their leaders. The United Nations, therefore, strongly encourages Jubilee Party, NASA and the electorate to participate in the planned election on 26 October 2017.”
The dispatch also heaps praise on the electoral body for engaging both parties in dialogue ahead of the polls.
“The United Nations urges the parties to recommit themselves to dialogue and to seek consensus-based solutions to their differences as the most appropriate means to pave the way for a free, transparent and credible election in conformity with the Constitution and existing electoral laws,” Zewde states.
[caption caption="Sahle-Work Zewde with Wafula Chebukati and US ambassador Bob Godec"]
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The United Nations also urged law enforcement agencies to respect human rights including the right to protest but also to protect human life and property.
The statement followed a meeting UN officials engaged in with the IEBC after meeting NASA's Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka and Jubilee's William Ruto on separate occasions.
The Opposition has been holding demonstrations every Monday and Friday to push for the coalition's 'Irreducible Minimums' demands without which they have pledged there will be no election on the set date.
Top on their list of demands is the resignation of Chief Executive Officer Ezra Chiloba.
[caption caption="NASA leaders after meeting envoys"]
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They also want companies they accuse of bungling the August polls barred from the fresh election; specifically Dubai-based printing firm Al Ghurair and French digital security firm IDEMIA (formerly OT-Morpho).
The coalition has also rejected amendments to election laws being fronted by Jubilee Party.
