Donors rap Kenya for poll fraud

2006-07-27 20:02

Nairobi - Western donors have given Kenya a slap on the wrist for allegations of misuse of state funds and bribery during elections for parliamentary seats.

In a boost for President Mwai Kibaki, a new party linked to him - the National Rainbow Coalition-Kenya - won three out of five elections on Monday for seats left open by the death of five MPs in a plane crash.

However, the elections, mostly in remote northern zones, were dogged by accusations of abuse.

A statement signed by five diplomatic missions said: "We are concerned by credible reports of misuse of state resources for partisan campaigning by government officials, including ministers, in violation of electoral regulations."

The statement - sent to foreign media on Thursday and signed by the United States, Canada, the European Commission, Norway, and Britain - also cited "credible reports of attempted bribery" by representatives of parties.

Did not see intimidation

"We call on leaders of all parties to enforce highest standards of conduct by their members and to ensure their members do not engage in such abuses in future elections," said a statement from Kenya's major Western donors.

The missions said, however, that their 21 observers visited more than 70 polling stations, but did not see any intimidation, violation or malpractice by election officials.

The statement was an embarrassment to Kibaki's government, whose senior officials regularly criticise Western diplomats for heavy-handed "meddling" in local affairs.

The electoral commission of Kenya (ECK) has also accused the government of using public resources - including bribing voters with relief food - to influence votes in Monday's poll.

'Need for regulation'

A government spokesperson questioned the ECK's partiality, but a senior Kibaki cabinet member gave a less-aggressive response.

Justice minister Martha Karua said: "We cannot pretend that we have not seen or heard the complaints, we realise there is need for regulation."

The elections were seen as a crucial test for Kibaki's government after a humiliating defeat in a constitutional referendum last year, followed by corruption scandals that caused three ministers to resign.

Kenya faces a presidential election in 2007, with many speculating Kibaki will run on a NARC-Kenya ticket.

- Reuters