We Will Ensure that Human Rights are Upheld-Ann Okutoi the director in charge in charge of research and advocacy at the Kenya human rights commissio
By Robert Mutasi and Shalody Chebet
Kenya Human Rights Commission now says they will ensure that human rights are being upheld during and after elections in the region.
speaking to the press in Eldoret town after meeting with Uasin Gishu, the civil societies, human rights defenders, and the religious fraternity,Ann Okutoi the director in charge in charge of research and advocacy at the Kenya human rights commissio they will monitor elections from party primaries to general elections.
“We are monitoring elections to ensure that the human rights are being protected at all cost in the entire electioneering period. we have put an internal strategy to work on that in accordance to the election circle,” said Okutoi
He said that the preparations are being put in place by the government to ensure that all the human rights principles and standards are being adhered to.
“The commission will be very keen to monitor the process and ensure that inclusion, the rule of law is being adhered to,” added Okutoi.
She noted that they shall also be monitoring the campaigns and the August polls elections in the country of Kenya.
“Our clarion call is that let us protect all the human rights in all the facets as we are actually doing the elections in the country of Kenya” noted Okutoi.
“Let human rights be central even in the political campaigns and in the manifestos that the politicians are giving to the electorates, we are calling for human rights to be given priority at all cost,” said Okutoi.
They said thye will ensure that the elections are conducted in a conducive environment.
“We all know that elections is a very key right in the life of human beings and it is actually anchored in the bill of rights, it is a political right, your right to vote,” noted Okutoi.
We will be very keen to ensure that we have a very that upholds the human rights cohesive environment.
“The commission is very keen to ensure that there is the prevention of the killings that usually happen during the electioneering period in Kenya,” she added.
She said that the commission is very keen to ensure that there is inclusion; women, people with disability, youth, no disruption of the learning calendar by the elections.
She said that the commission is looking forward to ensuring that there is inclusion ensuring that the people can get the information in the language that they understand how they can effectively participate in the elective processes.
She said that they are looking forward that persons living with disability will be considered and the braille machines availed in the voting processes.
“We need to have the special boots for the people living with disability, issues around mental health, we too have a special category for the intersex actions which need to be considered.
According to her, women and children are mostly affected during the effects of the elections in the country.
She said then government agencies should put the contingency plans for the prevention of human rights violations.
She further said that women should come out in large numbers so that there can be an achievement of the 2/3 gender rule in the leadership of this country.
Nick Omito, Centre for Human Rights and Mediationcalled on IEBCIEBC should manage the calendar of the elections in the country.
He alleged that there has been a start of the elections but in the calendar of the elections it should not have started.
“We are actually asking the Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission IEBC to own up the process from the start till the end of the electioneering process in the country,” said Omito.
“We are going to be in the forefront in championing the human right in the grass root levels,” added Omito.
“We shall be able to share any human rights violations in the country in all the ways if there shall be any because everyone has rights to humanity,” he said.
According to Omito, there have been a lot of challenges in the electioneering period
He said the fundamental rights which has been violated during the campaign and electioneering period is the seclusion of the women from airing their views as they are seeking elective positions in the country.
He further said that the country should never abuse the women in the campaigns citing that most of the political parties do not consider the women in their political parties.
He noted that the PWDs too need to be given fairground in the elections and campaigns.
Josphat Kimani, Bishop representing National Council of Churches Kenya NCCK
“We shall be in the forefront in supporting the initiative by the KNHCR to ensure that there shall be no incitement and violation of any rights during the elections and after the elections in the country,” Bishop Josephat Kimani said
He said that they will be engaging their members in their various places of worship in the country citing that peace at all times is very paramount in the nation.
He asked the government to look into the matters of peace instability being realized in the Baringo, Elgeiyo Marakwet, and West Pokot counties citing that if they are not tamed as early as possible it might create problems in the general elections as it can cause a lot of problems in the counties.
“We are actually urging everyone to remain peaceful and understand that elections come and go but the nation remains,” said Bishop Kimani.
“Let them, not be cheated to ignite violence but they should be informed to vote wisely for their preferred candidate without any problem,” he said.
Edited by Wasike Elvis
Post Author
