Raila Odinga celebrates after the Supreme Court ruling. Foreign envoys say that the IEBC is capable of handling the rerun. [Photo: The Guardian]
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is capable of conducting the ordered fresh presidential election.
Foreign Ambassadors from 24 countries said on Friday that the commission has the capability to conduct the fresh presidential election to be held within 60 days.Issuing a joint statement hours after the Supreme Court nullified President Uhuru Kenyatta’s August 8 election victory, the envoys hailed Kenyans for respecting the ruling.“Kenya’s electoral institutions now must begin preparing for a new presidential poll later this year and we urge everyone to work to make it free, fair, credible, and peaceful. We have trust in the ability of Kenya and its citizens to do so,” they said quoted by the Star.They added that all electoral processes can be improved, and promised continued support to Kenya’s institutions involved with the election.“The transparent legal process and the parties’ respect for the Court’s decision reflect the strength of Kenya’s democracy.”The envoys among them America’s Bob Godec, UK’s Nic Hailey and Jutta Frasch from Germany said the Supreme Court’s decision is an important moment for Kenya as its independent review demonstrated Kenya’s resilient democracy and commitment to the rule of law.“The Kenyan people showed patience and confidence as the legal case ran its course. As friends, we want to deepen our partnership with Kenya as it moves forward in building this great country,” they said.Others included EU’s Bruno Pozzi, Mette Knudsen (Denmark), Victor Conrad (Norway), Ralf Heckner (Switzerland), Antoine Sivan (France) and Mauro Massoni (Italy). Others are Sara Hradecky (Canada), Constantinos Moatsos (Greece), Frantisek Dlhopolcvek (Slovakia), Frans Makken (The Netherlands), Luisa Fragoso (Portugal), John Feakes (Australia), David Pavlita (Czech Republic) and Gavan Mc Cann (Ireland).The others are Harald Gunter (Austria), Fredrik Folkunger (Sweden), Julia Pataki (Romania), Javier García de ViedmaBernaldo de Quirós (Spain), Hilde Van Inthoult, ( Belgium), Ramses Malaty,( Finland) and Sergiusz Wolski (Poland).