The Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) has raised the red flag over the ongoing party primaries terming them flawed because of irregularities.
KNCHR vice chairman George Morara today said the exercise has been marred by massive electoral malpractices that cannot withstand the test of credibility.
Morara said reports from 84 election monitors the commission had dispatched to 29 counties paint a grim picture of the exercise with political parties flouting electoral laws with reckless abandon.
“The nominations these parties are purporting to undertake are a complete sham. They are violating most intrinsic electoral laws such as having illegitimate registers, shifting nomination dates arbitrarily, absence of ballot papers and even some candidates missing from the ballot,” noted Morara.
“These are tale tell signs of the mayhem we shall witness in the August polls because they exactly mirror events before the 2007 election,” he added.
He urged the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to move with haste and rein on errant parties that are not compliant of laws.
“Harsh penalties should be meted out on those parties found culpable because undermining a democratic process is always a recipe for chaos with aggrieved persons resorting to violence,” Morara said.
Jedidah Waruhiu, a commissioner, called on director of investigations and Inspector General of police to expedite investigations on reports of kidnappings and intimidation alleged by some aspirants.
She said the commission is in the know of women aspirants being harassed repeatedly by their opponents, actions that are tantamount to obstructing a legitimate democratic process.
Waruhiu also disclosed that KNCHR is moving to the Supreme Court to seek guidance on interpretation of Chapter six of the constitution that entails integrity.