Kenya: Testimony of Chris Albin-Lackey on Behalf of Human Rights Watch

Kenya: Testimony of Chris Albin-Lackey on Behalf of Human Rights Watch

http://allafrica.com/stories/200802080672.html

Human Rights Watch (Washington, DC)
DOCUMENT7 February 2008Posted to the web 8 February 2008
Following is the testimony of Chris Albin-Lackey on Behalf of Human Rights Watch at thr United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on African Affairs hearing on "The Immediate and Underlying Causes and Consequences of Flawed Democracy in Kenya."

Kenya's December Elections
Kenya's December elections should have been an important milestone for Kenya and for Africa. After a closely-fought campaign Kenyans turned out in massive numbers to cast their votes in peace. There were serious irregularities reported on both sides in some areas. However, the most damaging acts of fraud were committed during the final stages of tallying, when the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) presided over what was by all appearances a desperate last-minute attempt to rig the Presidential contest in favor of incumbent Mwai Kibaki.
In the closing hours of the tabulation process a lead of over one million votes for opposition candidate Raila Odinga evaporated under opaque and highly irregular proceedings and was transformed into a razor-thin margin of victory for Mr. Kibaki. The result was also entirely at odds with the ODM's successes in the parliamentary vote.

http://allafrica.com/stories/200802080672.html