The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has laid out an election monitoring strategy with different components that will ensure people’s rights are protected as the election process is on course.
These include capacity building of various players of the election, accurate messages to members of the public relevant to the electioneering period, and provision of civic education in terms of providing outreach services among others.
In order to advocate for the adherence of the rights for one to vote for the candidate of their choice, the commission has trained over 100 monitors who are out in the field to gather information.
Addressing the media at Pride-inn Mombasa hotel after a meeting with stakeholders, Chairperson KNCHR Roselyn Odede said that it is the role of the commission to establish the preparedness of the country by the authorities in terms of carrying out elections.
Odede urged all the stakeholders that help in maintaining peace and protection of human rights to note that during this period the respect and adherence of human rights is very important.
“We expect that the election process will respect human rights, the rights for one to vote for the leaders of their choice. As a commission, we will visit the coast region to meet stakeholders, introduce our newly appointed commissioners and officials for them to touch base with the other partners and help in planning of work,” she said.
Through the monitors, the chairperson said that information on rights violation is relayed to the commission in real time and then worked on and forwarded to duty bearers.
“We also ensure that we send our monitors to hot spot areas of the North Rift, the Coast, Nyanza and some parts of Nairobi in the informal settlements. The monitors also watch out on social media, in terms of hate speech,” added Odede.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of KNCHR Bernard Mogesa said that this time the commission will lay a great emphasis on gender-based violence as an area that they base their focus on and make sure the cases are minimized.
“In 2017 we recorded 201 cases and some of them were resolved in court. The commission has worked closely with the Inspector General of Police in making sure peace is enacted and women and children are protected,” he said.
By Chari Suche
