This morning, a peaceful march was organized by the Kenyans Peace with Truth and Justice Initiative to Kilimani Police Station to file a private prosecution against the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) with regard to criminal offenses committed in the processing, management and control of the immediate past general elections. According to the Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice Initiative, the offenses committed by ECK Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Commissioners and staff are notably : abuse of office; making of false certificates; neglect of duty; disobedience of statutory duty; forgery of judicial or official documents; and other election related offences as provided under the Election Offences Act and the National Assembly and Presidential Elections Act.
This initiative takes place in a context of political tension, Mr Kibaki having named on January 08 its Cabinet despite the massive irregularities that surrounded the presidential ballot of December 27, 2007, sending confusion on the fate of the ongoing dialogue with the leader of the opposition, Mr. Odinga. Post election violence has so far caused the death of over six hundred persons and about 250,000 forcibly displaced.
FIDH and KHRC request
The national authorities
– to follow the African Union president John Kufuor’s mediation by effectively engaging a genuine political dialogue with the leader of the opposition ;
– to ensure that the criminal complaint filed by representatives of the Kenyans for Peace with Truth and Justice Initiative is immediately followed by investigations ;
– to respect the right to assemble as guaranteed by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights ;
– to lift the ban on live media coverage to respect the freedoms of expression and information as provided by the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights ;
The the African Union Peace and Security Council and African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights
– to condemn the massive electoral irregularities during the presidential ballot and the serious human rights violations committed before, during and after the elections.