afrol News, 11 April - European Union (EU) observer mission has questioned the legitimacy of Kenya's disputed presidential election results because it has left "a legacy of uncertainity as to who was actually elected as President by the Kenyans people."

In a report, the mission said the electoral process lacked transparency in the counting and tallying of results, leading to the creation of "an unprecedented situation in the country characterised by deep ethnic rifts and civil unrest and a political stand off."

The report said the government's failure to consult the opposition on the appointment of new members of Kenya Electoral Commission (ECK) has “undermined public confidence in the electoral authority."

ECK was also criticised for not organising an election that met international standards of transparency.

“Constituency results were announced on the basis of telephone calls and faxes rather than original result forms as required by law”, the observers said.

But the ruling Party of National Unity of President Mwai Kibaki has questioned the authenticity of the report and therefore disagreed with its content.

Meanwhile, Kenyan leaders' failure to diffuse their political deadlock over a power-sharing deal has become unbecoming, resulting to violence and protests.

The current stalemate has forced the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to suspend "go and see" visits to internally displaced persons (IDPs) who fled the post electoral violence in the Southern Rift valley areas of Molo and Kipkelion living in Nakuru camp.

"Because of the current stalemate in the formation of a coalition government, the displaced feel that their return is premature and will be met with hostility," says John McCue, IOM's Operations Officer. "This is why IOM and its partners have decided to suspend go and see visits for the time being."

The visits are part of an early recovery strategy carried out in coordination with the Kenya Red Cross and UNHCR. With support from provincial administrations, members of the displaced community assess for themselves if the situation in their areas of origin was conducive for their return.

Prior to the "go and see" visits, IDPs received psychosocial support provided by counsellors from the National Council of Churches of Kenya to help them deal with the trauma expected during the trip and to manage the fear and anxiety expected both during the trip and from what they might find at home.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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