NAN-F-37
Observers
Nairobi, Oct. 25, 2017 (Xinhua/NAN) The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) said on Wednesday it had deployed an Election Observation Mission (IGAD-EOM) to monitor Kenya’s repeat presidential elections slated for Thursday.
The East African bloc said the move followed an invitation by Kenya’s poll body, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
“Kenya is an important cornerstone of the region’s peace, security and stability as well as being a leading economic powerhouse,” Tewolde Gebremeskel, Peace and Security Division Director said in a statement.
He said that the six-member regional bloc was counting on the leaders and the people of Kenya to maintain their democratic gains.
He said that the IGAD-EOM team, which started its mission on Oct. 19, would be deployed in selected areas.
Kenyans will vote on Thursday to elect a new president as directed by the Supreme Court, which invalidated the Aug. 8 polls citing irregularities.
The electoral body set Oct. 26 as the date for the repeat polls though the main opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) withdrew from the race, citing lack of a level playing field.
NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga opted out of the repeat polls two weeks ago and urged his supporters to abstain from voting.
Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta had insisted the polls must be held on schedule and warned the opposition against disrupting the exercise. (Xinhua/NAN)
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Edited by Celine-Damilola Oyewole/Grace Yussuf