Joint IRI/NDI Pre-Election Assessment Delegation Releases Report on Preparations for Kenya 2022 Elections

Washington, D.C. – Following a Pre-Election Assessment Mission conducted from May 16 to 20, 2022, the International Republican Institute (IRI) and the National Democratic Institute (NDI) announce the release of their joint report on preparations for Kenya’s elections scheduled for August 9, 2022.

The assessment delegation comprised Jean Mensa, Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Ghana; James Lahai, the National Coordinator of National Election Watch (Sierra Leone); Nicole Rowsell, Acting Vice President of the National Democratic Institute (USA); and Yomi Jacobs, Resident Program Director of the International Republican Institute in Kenya (Nigeria). 

From the report’s summary, the delegation found: “The 2022 general elections have the potential to be a pivotal milestone for democratization in Kenya as they take place against a backdrop of shifting political alliances and newly enacted and evolving amendments to the electoral law. Kenyans have the potential to break the pattern of disputed elections and prevent election-related violence in 2022. However, all stakeholders, especially political parties, must work together to promote tolerance, peaceful elections, and respect for historically marginalized groups.”

The Pre-Election Assessment Mission is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). All of its activities are conducted on an independent, non-partisan basis in accordance with the precepts of the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct. All findings and recommendations are solely those of NDI and IRI. Since their founding in 1983, IRI and NDI have collectively organized more than 400 international assessment and observation missions globally.