The Joint COMESA-EAC-IGAD election observer mission to Kenya has congratulated the people upon their overall peaceful conduct during the electoral process which saw the Deputy Prime Minister, Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta emerge as the winner and becoming the fourth President of the Republic of Kenya.

The team also concluded that the 04th march general elections met regional, continental and international standards for credible and transparent elections. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced on Saturday, 09 March 2013 that President elect Kenyatta won 50.07 percent of the vote after a turnout of 86 percent.

COMESA, EAC and IGAD stated in their preliminary statement issued on 05 March 2013 in Nairobi that the polling period and early stage of vote counting expressed the free will of the Kenyan citizens. “Although there have been challenges relating to verification of voters, the mission concludes that the 2013 general elections met regional, continental and international standards for credible and transparent elections. We, therefore, appeal to all political players and candidates to accept the outcome of the elections.

In the event that there is reason to challenge the results, we urge everyone to use the provided legal channels to resolve their disputes,” the statement read. The joint mission also commended the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for their professional conduct and the security agencies for ensuring that overall, law and order prevailed throughout the electoral process and that isolated cases of violence did not overshadow the peaceful conduct of the elections.

The mission also made two key recommendations: that mechanisms be explored to strengthen the engagement of various stakeholders in their diversity in national integration and cohesion; and the other is that steps should be taken to ensure that all eligible Kenyans in the Diaspora are enfranchised in future in order to exercise their democratic rights as provided for by the Constitution.