Nairobi Appeal to Action

Nairobi, Kenya 30^th November to 1^st December 2017 – Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) in partnership with EACSOF Kenya organized a regional CSO forum to discuss the role CSOs in ensuring that EAC partner states uphold and implement their regional and national commitments. The meeting brought together CSOs from five EAC Partner States (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania). The meeting was also graced by UNHCR Regional Office representatives. The forum: Develop an advocacy plan of action (2017-18) for citizenship and nationality within the EA; Established the EAC Coalition of Statelessness to be housed by EACSOF Secretariat (Arusha); Agreed to work with UNHCR to conclude their study on Statelessness which will include support to assist hold national level consultation with actors on statelessness between January and March 2018.; Work with other partners to lobby for adoption of the AU Draft Protocol by 2019.

Regional Dialogue Committee Members at Laico Regency in Nairobi, Kenya

The purpose of the meeting was to consider the report and recommendations of the 5th Annual EAC Secretary General’s Forum and to assign responsibilities and timelines for follow up. The meeting was further expected to discuss the preparation of the 6th Annual Secretary General’s Forum and the process of conducting national level dialogue forums leading to the regional forum.

Nairobi, Kenya - 17-18^th October, 2017 – The EAC Regional Dialogue Committee meeting brought together the Private Sector, Civil Society and Other Interest groups; representatives from the Ministries responsible for EAC Affairs in the Partner States; Regional Apex Bodies of the Dialogue Parties; the GIZ and the EAC Secretariat.

The meeting proposed the following as the themes for the 6^th SG’s Forum: a) Realizing the EAC development agenda: the critical role of industrialization; Deepening EAC integration through industrialization; and The EAC in my lifetime: a reality or an illusion? The RDC also adopted three sub-themes under which topics will be developed. The sub-themes included:  1) Realizing effective development cooperation in the EAC; Citizens’ scoring of the common market protocol; and Promotion of local procurement for EAC development  

Arusha, Tanzania, 23^th October 2017 - The East African Community Short Term Election Observation Mission to Kenya’s 26th October Presidential Election has been launched in Nairobi, Kenya. Launching the exercise, the Head of the Mission, Hon. Prof. Edward B. Rugumayo commended the people of Kenya for being an example in the region on the promotion of the rule of law through use of judicial processes to address electoral disputes, respect for governance institutions and an open space for political competition and contestation so far exhibited. The Head of the Mission noted that the forthcoming Presidential Election in Kenya was unique and the first of its kind in the region where a Presidential Election is repeated as a result of Court decision.

He urged the EAC Observers to remain focused to their role and professionalism as they undertake the mission and ensure thorough exercise of due diligence in their tasks and positive discretion in making judgements on the situation on the ground.

He therefore urged the EAC Observers to be cautious of the emotions in regards to the personal and collective conducts and always remember that as International Observers, their mandates and limits were well stipulated by the International Election Observation Standards, as well as the EAC Principles for Elections Observation and Evaluation.

The Mission Leader was optimistic that the whole process will be peaceful and successful and will forever remain a reference point of best practice in electioneering in the EAC region and beyond. He wished the Kenyan people peaceful, free and fair elections as they exercise their rights to choose the Leader of their choice.     

At the same occasion, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge, reiterated that the Kenya democracy was advancing and the adherence to the rule of law and democratic principles and respect of Institutions was growing in the same measure. The EAC official said nullification by the Supreme Court of Kenya of the outcome of the Presidential election of 8th August 2017 is a testimony to the operational independence the Constitution of Kenya grants to the Organs of governance, which is an important example in the region on the promotion of the rule of law through use of judicial processes to address disputes of all kinds.

For details see https://www.eac.int/press-releases/154-peace-security/869-eac-short-term-election-observer-mission-to-the-26th-october-repeat-presidential-election-in-kenya-launched

Mombasa Civil Society Organizations and Stakeholders in a Peace Campaign at Wesley Hall in Tononoka - Mombasa

The event was organized by Mombasa CSO Platform to advocate for peaceful environment around port community and along the Northern corridor to ensure continued trade and business for the benefit of the citizenry.

Mombasa, Kenya, 19^th October 2017 - Mombasa Port CSO Platform and security stakeholders with support from NCIC, COWERAT, EACSOF, MKENYA DAIMA, CJPC, ONUG, Sauti Ya Wanawake, CDPK organized for Peace Campaign to ensure safe environment for continued trade around the port. The initiative aimed at forging an action network with key stakeholders to ensure involvement of citizens and CSOs in peace and security in the region. The forum which brought together religious leaders, kaya elders, community members and private sectors realized  partnership between Mombasa CSO Platform and security stakeholders to ensure peace prevails before, during and after the repeat presidential elections.