This archive report was first published on 23 June 2021.
On June 23, 2021, the National Dialogue Conference on Electoral Justice in Kenya brought together key stakeholders to discuss the country's electoral process. Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka and NARC counterpart Martha Karua were among those in attendance, and they both expressed strong opposition to any plans to postpone the 2022 General Election.
According to Kalonzo, moving the election would interfere with the Constitutional rights of Kenyans to participate in a general election as stated in the Constitution. He emphasized that the only way an election can be postponed is if the country is at war with another country, and even then, it must be on a 6-month basis with a resolution passed by both Houses of Parliament.
Martha Karua also spoke out against the postponement, emphasizing the need to streamline the country's election management to achieve free, fair, credible, and peaceful elections. She pointed out that the root cause of electoral injustice in Kenya is impunity by those elected and urged Kenyans to focus on electing leaders who value credibility.
Other stakeholders, including President of the Law Society of Kenya Nelson Havi and religious leaders led by Catholic Archbishop Martin Kivuva and SUPKEM chairperson Hassan Naado, also expressed their opposition to the postponement of the elections. They called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to continue with its preparations and urged political leaders and Kenyans to offer their support to the electoral body.
