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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Unity governments - Kenya experience - Index of articles
The
electoral process in Kenya: A review of past experience & recommendations
for reform
International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES)
August 2008
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Executive summary
In this report,
the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES), an international,
nonpartisan democracy development organization presents its review
of the Kenyan electoral process and makes recommendations for reform.
The intent of this report is to have its findings presented to the
Independent Review Committee (IREC) to consider in its examination
of the electoral process, and the development of its recommendations
for comprehensive measures to be taken to improve the conduct of
future elections.
Through an overview
of the political and technical problems hobbling the Kenyan electoral
system, this report aims to contextualize the main challenges faced
by the national community in view of future elections, without specific
regard to the details of the December 2007 elections which may never
be known. Numerous technical and electoral problems have been identified
by IFES during its work in providing election assistance to the
Election Commission of Kenya (ECK) between 2002 and 2008.
A thorough evaluation
of the Kenyan electoral process brings several issues to light.
First, the process is heavily dependent on political structures
that reflect particular institutional imperfections in the country.
Secondly, previous attempts at reform have lacked necessary constitutional
backing and have fallen short by targeting specific issues arising
from individual elections, rather than addressing problems in the
overall system.
IFES offers
the following recommendations, which are discussed in greater detail
in this report:
Electoral
Management Recommendations and Reform Concepts
Recommendation
1: Reduce the number of Commissioners
Recommendation 2: Delegate greater responsibility to the Secretariat
Recommendation 3: Professionalize the Commission
Recommendation 4: Create a separate training unit under the elections
department
Recommendation 5: Codify electoral policies and procedures
Recommendation 6: Improve the structure of the secretariat
Recommendation 7: Increase the integration of technology into election
processes
Recommendation 8: Reach the public through media
Recommendation 9: Improve internal communications
Recommendation 10: Establish and maintain communications with important
stakeholders
Recommendation 11: Allow the Electoral Commission Kenya (ECK) to
conduct referenda
Recommendation 12: Allow the ECK to enact regulations
Recommendation 13: Empower the ECK to resolve electoral disputes
Recommendation 14: Make the ECK accountable to the National Assembly
Recommendation 15: Mainstream voter education
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