[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 192 (Friday, December 14, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S15648-S15649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTIONS IN KENYA

  Mr. FEINGOLD. Madam President, the last time I devoted a floor 
statement to Kenya it was to condemn the assault by elite police and 
paramilitary commandos armed with AK-47s on the offices of the Standard 
Group's offices in an attempt, by the government of that time, to 
prevent an independent newspaper from publishing a story on a sensitive 
political matter. That was nearly 2 years ago--in March 2006--when 
Kenya's President Mwai Kibaki and senior members of his government were 
facing serious charges of bribery, mismanagement of public funds, 
inadequate governance reform efforts, and political favoritism. 
Unfortunately, while some reform measures have been instituted, 
corruption continues to choke Kenya's government and permeate society 
as efforts to curb such practices have been significantly 
deprioritized. Transparency International's 2007 Corruption Perceptions 
Index shows Kenya sliding down to number 150 out of 179 countries, on 
par with Zimbabwe and Kyrgyzstan.
  More encouraging have been the increasingly engaged voices of the 
Kenyan people and the dynamic media that has developed since the last 
election. The last election showed the people of Kenya that their votes 
did count enough to bring about a change, and the independent press has 
simultaneously expanded and strengthened remarkably. Media outlets have 
not allowed themselves to be intimidated as they persist in exposing 
government mismanagement. Furthermore, while the courts are not 
entirely independent, they have taken up several high-profile cases, 
and some key ministers have been forced to resign. While Kenya's 
democracy is increasingly robust, it is nevertheless still quite young. 
The new few weeks may reveal just how much progress has been made--and 
how much progress is likely to be made in the future.
  In two weeks--on Thursday, December 27--Kenyans will go to the polls 
to vote for their President, Parliament, and local officials. Five 
years ago, the Kenyan people went to the polls and unambiguously 
rejected years of mismanagement, corruption, and declining economic 
growth by overwhelmingly electing the opposition National Rainbow 
Coalition, NARC, to power, ending

[[Page S15649]]

more than 40 years of rule by the Kenya African National Union, KANU. 
President Kibaki and his administration deserve credit for advancing 
basic freedoms and permitting the emergence of a vibrant civil society, 
but his failure to rein in corruption in government ranks has him now 
just trailing Raila Odinga, his main contender in the presidential 
race.
  The fact that these elections are so close and hotly contested is a 
good sign for Kenya's democracy. For the first time, a number of 
parties appear to be taking small but noticeable steps away from ethnic 
loyalties and towards more legitimate political platforms. Such a 
development is an essential component as the country moves towards 
better governance, and I am so pleased by all the work the 
administration--and in particular the embassy in Nairobi--is 
undertaking by working closely with the Electoral Commission of Kenya, 
political parties, civil society organizations and other international 
partners through a new multidonor-funded, comprehensive electoral 
assistance program. Such initiatives are vital to help bring about a 
strong democracy.
  As the 2007 national elections approach, however, there are a number 
of challenges to a peaceful and fair multiparty process. Like other 
Kenyan polls before it, this campaign period has been fraught with 
violence and accusations of fraud. The electoral commission is 
investigating reports of voting cards being bought, and the primary 
conventions of the mainstream political parties were interrupted by 
violence and chaos. On balance, there are those who say security has 
gotten better, but violence continues at unacceptable rates and around 
16,000 Kenyans have been displaced in election-related violence.
  Last May, the United States Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Michael 
Ranneberger, addressed the Kenyan government and political community. 
He promised that the United States would be neutral in the elections 
and in building the capacity of political parties and civil society, 
but he made it clear that, and I quote, ``We are not neutral with 
respect to . . . the conduct of elections. We want to see an inclusive, 
fair, and transparent electoral process.''
  As voting day draws near, it is essential that the international 
community speaks with one voice in calling for all parties to refrain 
from violence and fraud before, during, and after the upcoming polls. 
Kenya's political elite, military officials, judicial bodies, and 14 
million registered voters must understand that the world is watching 
closely for signs that Kenya is truly committed to good governance and 
rule of law. Kenya's important leadership role in the region and 
throughout the continent make it particularly important that the 
government ensure the open flow of information, freedom of assembly, 
and nonpartisan conduct of the polls. Further, the government must 
refrain from any misuse of its resources or authorities in the runup to 
the election and on Election Day. All parties should renounce efforts 
to enflame tribal hatred, which means that politicians need to control 
their rhetoric, eschew violence, and avoid threats.
  International support for Kenya's upcoming polls includes a large 
number of foreign observers who will be dispersed across the country to 
witness the polling on Election Day. Reports from these monitors and 
independent media will inform opinions around the globe not only when 
it comes to assessing the past 5 years of President Kibaki's 
administration but also in determining the legitimacy of the next 
government. In 2 weeks, all eyes will be on a country that is an 
important role model of stability and growth in a region beset by 
natural and manmade disasters. It is not only Kenya's next president 
and other political leadership who will be decided on December 27, but 
it is also the state of its democracy.

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