Public statements by USA, European union and other like-minded partners on the electoral processes- a case study on Kenyan elections

Abstract

The use of public statements during Kenyan elections by foreign governments and their diplomatic missions has been growing in Kenyan, especially since the 2003 General Elections. However, this became even more evident following the 2007/2008 post election violence and the run-up to the 2013 General Elections. Indeed, public diplomacy has been used by foreign missions in Kenya and in particular foreign missions affiliated to the West to influence Kenya’s domestic political agenda in the run-up and after General Elections. Matters traditionally thought to be internal such as elections, are increasingly becoming concerns of the international community. Especially as many states are members of the United Nations or have signed and ratified international treaties that bind them to international obligations. This became even more evident in the run-up to the 2013 General Elections, as a major Kenyan Presidential and Deputy Presidential candidate faced trial at the International Criminal Court. Some state parties to the Rome Statute with Foreign Missions in the country used Public Diplomacy, especially public statements to urge the Government of Kenya and the people of Kenya to respect its international obligations to the Court as a state party to the Rome Statute. The study set to explore the implication of public statements in Kenya by western states in particular, the USA, European Union and other like minded partners on the country’s electoral processes. The researcher wanted to understand whether public statements by western foreign missions influenced the Kenyan Elections with an emphasis on the 2013 General Elections but looking in detail at the period 2007-2013. The study was carried out in Mathare Slum area A4 and AC which experienced violence following the 2007 General Elections. The study revealed that public statements by foreign governments and their diplomatic missions do influence domestic political agendas however at different levels. At the grassroots the public statements may not have as strong an impact as they do at the national level.