NASA Presidential Candidates Raila Odinga and African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat (L) in Nairobi, July 20, 2017. [Photo: @MoussaFaki_M]
Even as the August 8, elections date approaches, Presidential Candidates Raila Odinga and President Uhuru Kenyatta are not reading from the same script over the election preparedness. This is according to the African Union Commission (AUC).According to the AUC chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, a Chadian diplomat, the two main rivals in the race for State House, disagree over how prepared, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), is.Mahamat who met Uhuru and Raila, different days, during his two-day tour of Kenya that ended Thursday, said Uhuru insisted that elections must be held on August 8, while Raila questioned the preparedness of IEBC, to carry out the elections, on the set date.Addressing the press, the diplomat however indicated the two leaders were committed to seeing Kenya conduct peaceful polls, despite their political differences."They said they were willing to take part in a credible process. I also got an assurance from IEBC that all systems are in place and that the agency will deliver credible elections," said Mahamat.He further called on the politicians, and Kenya at large, to exercise peaceful elections, to make Africa Union proud.He said the Commission would not want its member country to plunge into a post election violence, similar to what happened during Kenya's 2007/2008 general election.
The AU team also met IEBC, and the Judiciary, led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki.