The European Union on Monday warned that violence may erupt in Kenya if the electoral process is not insulated from malpractices such as rigging and voter intimidation.
Chief Observer Marietje Schaake noted that concerns had been raised by some Kenyans about possible chaos.
“It is no secret that there are concerns of a possible outbreak of violence. People in Kenya are concerned about this. The security and safety of the elections depends on the respective bodies,” she said, the East African quotes her say.
The EU last week deployed 30 long-term observers to different Kenyan counties to assess the campaigns and election preparedness.
Schaake reiterated that the observer mission will remain impartial while assessing Kenya’s readiness to conduct free, transparent and peaceful elections.
Kenyans head to the polls on August 8 to choose a new president, lawmakers and regional representatives.
The U.S.-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned in a report on Monday that inter-communal tensions were building up in Naivasha area in Nakuru County ahead of Kenya’s general elections, Xinhua reports.
According to the HRW report, different Kenyan ethnic groups expressed concern over toxic campaign rhetoric that may plunge the country into election related skirmishes like the ones experienced in 2007 and 2008, this according to the report.
