AMECEA TEAM OF ELECTION MONITORING REPORT

Introduction
Elections in Kenya and other AMECEA countries are always characterized with irregularities. General Election is an activity that defines democracy in a particular country. How well the event is handled may determine how the country will be governed. AMECEA has viewed General Elections as crucial processes which form the basis for political governance. 
For the above reason, AMECEA JP organized Election Monitoring, in Kenya, and the activity took place in March 2013, during the General Elections.

Objectives
The purpose of the monitoring exercise was to see that the election was fairly conducted and in case of an election crisis, the desk would be able to make a meaningful intervention. This was also a great chance, to make the Church be involved in the making of a good leadership, to have fair elections and where it lacks, to be able to agitate on behalf of the people.  It was also a good chance for the team to gather enough lessons and experiences for the benefit of other elections scheduled within other AMECEA countries.  

The team
AMECEA was represented by four delegates, two from Kenya, one from Malawi and Uganda.  We also incorporated IMBISA, and we had one person from Zimbabwe. The activity was organized in collaboration with CJPC Kenya team, and thirty three Catholic University (CUEA) students. The entire team was also working under the umbrella of Election Observers Group (ELOG.)  

The process
The team’s main interest was in specific areas that included and were not limited to the voting process, voter identification, vote counting process, voters turn out, elderly and illiterate assistance, guidance on voting process and Electoral Commission officials conduct. The team was allocated polling stations in Nairobi, and its outskirts.  Some students from CUEA were also allocated polling stations in other parts of the country, like Mombasa, Kirinyaga, Murang’a, Kisumu and Nyeri. Every team member had three to four polling stations to handle. Four representatives were also available at the national tallying center; two from CJPC, one from CUEA, and one from AMECEA.  Our source of information was mainly by observation but we could also get clarifications from the presiding officers, when it was deemed necessary.

Challenges
Ø  The polling stations throughout the country were so many to handle effectively. 
Ø  Some areas in the country especially in Nairobi were not safe for some team members to observe throughout the process, including vote counting, which was done at night.
Ø  The budget for the activity was limited and we were not able to have representation from all AMECEA countries.

Results 
The team gathered the following information:
Ø  Registration was massively done and turnout was quite commendable.
Ø  Voting process was favorable. Guidance was given to those who required, there were no campaigns at the polling stations, no intimidation and the voters were given a chance to elect their leader of choice, without interference. 
Ø  Identification of voters was transparent, because those who were not in the register were not allowed to vote. Also those who did not have the right documents were not allowed to vote, and those who had not registered.
Ø  Vote count took longer than expected, but the process was credible and it was done in the open.  Party agents were also present during the process.
Overall, IEBC managed preparations in a transparent and effective manner, and peace was maintained throughout the period of voting, votes counting and the period Kenyans were waiting for results. 
Apart from an attack on police officers in the coastal city of Mombasa, where six police officers were killed and the accidental shooting of a presiding officer in the Central province, the rest of the country was peaceful with very few incidences of violence reported. Two voters collapsed and died as they waited to vote, one in Karen Nairobi and the other, an old woman from Murang’a.
The team termed the elections as credible and transparent, apart from some irregularities that were reported like; delay to open some polling stations, B.V.R. machines failing to work and clerks forgetting computer passwords.
“This is marvelous. It is unbelievable. The voters must be commended for their determination and zeal in their turn out. Despite the few hiccups here and there, especially on names missing from the register and the malfunction of the identification machines, this process is going on well and hopefully all will be well and peace shall prevail” said one Presiding officer, in Nairobi. 
This was the first time Kenya was going to elections under the new constitution promulgated in 2010.
“We hope the same spirit will be carried on throughout other AMECEA countries” Said Fr. Jude Waweru, AMECEA Justice and Peace Coordinator.  He added that AMECEA is in the process of forming a permanent team of Election monitoring, for all elections in other AMECEA countries.
The whole process armed the team of observers with enough lessons and experiences for the benefit of other elections scheduled within AMECEA countries.