Carter Center's election observation mission in Kenya co-leader John Kerry during a past press briefing. [Courtesy: Daily Nation]
The controversial Carter Center election observation mission in Kenya has broken its silence on the just concluded October 26 presidential repeat polls.
In a statement to newsrooms, the US-based NGO expressed concerns about the political climate in the run-up to the repeat polls, noting that the elections were conducted in a context of heightened tensions stemming from the protracted electoral process and verbal attacks by key political players.
“These problems severely undermined the ability of Kenya’s electoral and judicial institutions to implement the fresh presidential elections. Rather than consolidating support for a national political program, the election polarised the country and exposed the deep tribal and ethnic rifts that have long characterised its politics,” the statement said in part.
The group called on all political players to put aside their differences to dialogue for a common cause.
"In the days ahead, it is incumbent on political leaders to put personal agendas aside and take steps to heal the country while maintaining the country’s constitutional order," the team said.
The mission was headed by former US Secretary of State John Kerry.