Angaza Movement: Civil Society,Human Rights Groups Sensitize Kenyan Voters On Electoral Integrity

KWALE,Kenya, Jan, 25 – A national and grassroots initiative dubbed ‘Angaza Movement’ which is a consortium of civic & human rights organizations has embarked on an ambitious campaign to educate and sensitive Kenyan voters on electoral integrity & political accountability.

The over 20 organisations has challenged Kenyans to properly vet politicians and individuals seeking elective positions as the country approaches an electioneering period.

The current instalment of the campaign at the costal region is being spearheaded by Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) and Kwale Human Rights Network (KHRN) as Kenyans are being encouraged to register themselves as voters.

“We are sending the message asking citizens to elect leaders with high integrity. The leaders must be vetted before they are elected,” said KHRN activist Mahmoud Baroh.

The campaign is targeting the six coastal counties amidst the need to ensure that Kenyans put their leaders to task while promoting peaceful co-existence ahead of the polls. Concerns have been raised by stakeholders nationwide in the wake of rising political temperatures that could jeopardise the August polls.

Several political leaders have so far been arrested and even arraigned and charged with hate speech.

Baroh has challenged the electorate to elect into office development -oriented leaders as opposed to those sowing seeds of discord and division even as social media platform shave been put on the spot and indented as a conduit for hate and violence.

“We are investigating various internet platforms to check if the messages delivered are of any incitement and hold talks with the youth not to be misused since they are the most vulnerable,” he said.

MUHURI’s Fredrick Okado said the Movement will observe and scrutinize the operations of the institutions mandated to conduct the election.

“We have learnt through the previous elections that unfair electoral exercise triggers violence and this time we want to rectify that by identifying weaknesses and address them early to curb future unrest from happening,”said Okado.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is currently undertaking the second phase of the national voter registration drive amidst low voter turnout.