Africa observer missions praise Kenya election

At a news conference in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, four African-based election observation missions have been presenting their preliminary findings.

Election day was "quiet, peaceful, and orderly," according to Jakaya Kikwete, the former president of Tanzania and head of the East Africa Community mission.

He expressed his team's "satisfaction" with how the election was handled, complimenting the electoral commission on how it handled the process.

Dr. Mulatu Teshome, the head of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (Igad) team, reiterated his remarks.

According to all metrics, the election management performance was commendable and preparation was solid.

However, they continued by saying that the delay of the election in two counties had "created fear and uncertainty."

The use of technology, according to Mr. Kiwete, in voter registration, voter identification, and vote transmission "had boosted efficiency in the transparency."

The EAC mission recommended that party operatives be permitted to oversee voter verification in addition to just placing ballots in boxes during future elections.

In addition, Mr. Kikwete asked Kenyans to uphold the peace. Igad also stated that a significant proportion of women and young people were employed as poll workers and party agents.

The security measures put in place at the polling places the two missions visited were also lauded.

Both the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the African Union mission headed by former president of Sierra Leone Ernest Bai Koroma dispatched observer teams.

Some 18,000 local and international observers were accredited for Kenya's 9 August election.