The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) to Kenya on Thursday, July 14, deployed 48 observers to begin long-term observation of the August polls.
The election observers were placed in 39 out of 47 counties ahead of the general election.
Addressing the press, the EU EOM, led by Chief Observer Ivan Štefanec, Member of the European Parliament from Slovakia, mentioned that the activities in Nairobi began on 27 June with the arrival of a core team of 12 experts.
Mr. Štefanec noted that the observers would assess various aspects of the process, including the campaign and preparations for the elections across Kenya.
“Today we are deploying 24 teams of Long-Term Observers, each with two members. Long-Term Observers are instrumental to the mission’s conduct of a full and comprehensive assessment of the electoral process, in line with the EU’s established election observation methodology," he stated.
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The Long-Term Observers (LTOs) come from 25 EU Member States, as well as Norway and Switzerland.
They will be meeting local election officials, candidates, representatives from political parties as well as civil society and local media up to and beyond election day.
The information gathered will inform the EU EOM core team based in Nairobi about elections-related developments in counties and constituencies across the country.
The mission will be reinforced around election day with 48 Short-Term Observers (STOs) as well as a delegation from the European Parliament.
The EU EOM will present its preliminary findings to the public shortly after the 9 August election day and remain in Kenya until the completion of the electoral process, including in case of a second round of presidential elections, and the complaints and appeals process.
The final report of the EU EOM, including its recommendations, will be published approximately three months after the completion of the electoral process.
