CEDMAC

CONSORTIUM FOR THE EMPOWERMENT AND

DEVELOPMENT OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES
KENYA ELECTIONS DOMESTIC
OBSERVATION FORUM (KEDOF)
Themat! "e#$"t
S%mma"&
Email: info@cedmac.org
Tel: 38 77 791, 3872070
Fax: 3861397
P.O. ox 63!2
00200 "#$%O$, &en'a
CEDMAC
1
'() E*ECUTIVE SUMMARY
T(i) i) *rief re+or, o-,line) ,(e in,er+la' *e,.een marginali/a,ion in &en'a
and ,(e elec,oral +roce)). $, )+eci0call' loo1) a, ,(e 2007 general elec,ion in
.(ic( 2E34#2 a) a con)or,i-m .(ic( c(am+ion) ,(e rig(,) of ,(e
marginali/ed comm-ni,' +ar,ici+a,ed a) a mem*er of ,(e &en'a Elec,ion
3ome),ic O*)er5a,ion For-m 6&E3OF7 famil'.
T(e re+o, )-mmari/e) ,(e ma8or c(allenge) iden,i0ed and recommenda,ion)
+ro+o)ed from ,(e ,(ree ,(ema,ic re+or,) +rod-ced *' 2E34#2, 5i/ Pre
Elec,ion %e+or,, Elec,ion 3a' %e+or, and ,(e Po), Elec,ion re+or,
$, i) ex+ec,ed ,(a, ,(i) re+or, .ill +ro5ide -)ef-l in)ig(,) and +o))i*le
g-ideline) ,o ,(e +olic' ma1er) )o ,(a, ,(e' can addre)) ,(e 5ario-)
c(allenge) .(ic( (inder e9ec,i5e +ar,ici+a,ion of marginali/ed comm-ni,ie)
in ,(e elec,oral +roce)).

+() C$,-$"t%m .$" the Em#$/e"me,t a,0 De1e2$#me,t $.
Ma"3,a24e0 C$mm%,te- 5 CEDMAC
2on)or,i-m for ,(e Em+o.ermen, and 3e5elo+men, of 4arginali/ed
2omm-ni,ie) 62E34#27 .a) formed in 1999 a) +la,form of and for ci5il
)ocie,' organi/a,ion), ne,.or1) and ini,ia,i5e) from marginali/ed
comm-ni,ie), .(ic( are ),ri5ing for )ocial 8-),ice and elimina,ion) of all form)
of di)crimina,ion.
T(e ma8or o*8ec,i5e of 2E34#2 i) ,o +ro5ide an organi/ed ne,.or1 and
+la,form for organi/a,ion), ne,.or1) and ini,ia,i5e) of ,(e marginali/ed
comm-ni,ie) ,o +ool ,(eir )'nergie), ,o +ro5ide le5erage e9ec, on +olicie)
and ac,or) ,(a, (a5e ,(e +o,en,ial ,o in:-ence ,(e ;-ali,' of life for ,(e
+eo+le. 2E34#2 i) an organi/a,ion .(ic( )er5e) a) a +la,form for
c(am+ioning ,(e rig(,) of marginali/ed comm-ni,ie). <+eci0call' i, ),ri5e) ,o
en)-re ,(a, ,(ere i) )ocial 8-),ice and elimina,ion of all form) of
di)crimina,ion and +re8-dice again), ,(e marginali/ed comm-ni,ie) in &en'a.
T(e 2E34#2 con),i,-enc' incl-de) Pa),orali),), e,(nic minori,ie), (-n,er)
and ga,(erer), fore), d.eller), -r*an )l-m d.eller), ri5erine comm-ni,ie),
+eo+le .i,( di)a*ili,ie) and 4-)lim). 2E34#2 i) one of ,(e 13 ci5il )ocie,ie)
-nder ,(e &en'a Elec,ion) 3ome),ic O*)er5a,ion For-m 6&E3OF7
6() MARGINALIZATION 7 A PERPSECTVE
4arginali/a,ion in *road ,erm) refer) ,o *e relega,ed ,o an -nim+or,an, or
+o.erle)) +o)i,ion .i,(in a )ocie,' or gro-+. $, can al)o *e de0ned a)
excl-)ion of an indi5id-al or comm-ni,ie) from meaningf-l +ar,ici+a,ion in
)ocie,', in +ar, *eca-)e ,(e indi5id-al or ,(e comm-ni,' i) -na*le ,o
+ar,ici+a,e in ,(e )+(ere) of )ocio economic and +oli,ical de5elo+men, of ,(e
)ocie,'. 4arginali/a,ion (a) ,(e +o,en,ial ,o re)-l, in )e5ere ma,erial
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de+ri5a,ion, and in i,) mo), ex,reme form can ex,ermina,e gro-+). $n &en'a
comm-ni,ie) )-c( a) ,(e +a),orali),), ,(e nomad), (-n,er and ga,(erer),
-r*an )l-m d.eller), e,(nic and racial minori,ie), religio-) minori,ie),
indi5id-al) li5ing .i,( di)a*ili,ie) (a5e all *een facing one or ano,(er form of
marginali/a,ion d-e ,o dominan, di)co-r)e 6)7 .i,(in ,(e ),r-c,-re) of )ocie,'.
4a,erial de+ri5a,ion i) ,(e mo), common re)-l, of marginali/a,ion .(en
loo1ing a, (o. -nfairl' ma,erial re)o-rce) 6)-c( a) food and )(el,er7 are
di)+er)ed in )ocie,'. #long .i,( ma,erial de+ri5a,ion, marginali/ed indi5id-al)
and comm-ni,ie) are al)o excl-ded from )er5ice), +rogram), and +olicie).
4an' comm-ni,ie) ex+erience marginali/a,ion, 2E34#2 i) +ar,ic-larl'
concerned .i,( addre))ing ,(e marginali/a,ion of ,(e +a),orali),), nomad),
(-n,er ga,(erer) and religio-) minori,ie) in &en'a. T(e marginali/a,ion of
,(e)e comm-ni,ie) i) largel' a +rod-c, of coloni/a,ion. T(i) ,rend (a) *een
+er+e,-a,ed *' )-cceeding regime) (ence f-r,(er di)enfranc(i)ing ,(e)e
comm-ni,ie). T(e' (a5e *een i)ola,ed from ,(e main),ream de5elo+men,
agenda in i,) en,ire,'. 4arginali/a,ion *ring) ,o ,(e fore fron, ,(e i))-e of
ine;-ali,'. $, i) im+or,an, ,o no,e ,(a, ine;-ali,' i) no, onl' ,(e income ga+
*e,.een ,(e ric( and +oor. $, en,ail) di9erence) in acce)) ,o ed-ca,ion,
(eal,(, acce)) and en8o'men, of +oli,ical rig(,) and re+re)en,a,ion. T(i) i)
exac,l' .(a, ,(e marginali/ed comm-ni,ie) in &en'a ex+erience
For a long ,ime +oli,ic) (a) domina,ed +-*lic +olic'. <ince inde+endence ,(e
+a,rimonial ),a,e 6+a,rimon' .(ere +ro+er,' i) in(eri,ed from one=)
ance),or)7 (a) fa5ored ,(o)e .(o .ere clo)e ,o +o.er. $, re.arded +oli,ical
lo'al,' .i,( economic good). $n recen, ,ime), ,(i) )1e.ed +oli,ical ),r-c,-re
(a) gi5en ri)e ,o 6grand7 corr-+,ion. F-ndamen,all', graf, en,ail) ,(e gi5ing of
re.ard) ,(a, are no, earned, ,(-) gi5ing ri)e ,o -nd-e di)+ari,ie).
Pa,ronage +oli,ic) and corr-+,ion ,(-) re.ard) more ,o ,(o)e .(o .or1 le))
and le)) ,o ,(o)e .(o .or1 more. T(i) i) a )erio-) di),or,ion of e;-al c(ance)
and fair +la', and can ex+lain a lo, of ine;-ali,ie) in &en'a.
The #$2!& #"$!e--: $n &en'a ,(i) ma' (a5e con,ri*-,ed ,o ine;-ali,' ei,(er
*' de)ign or -nin,ended con)e;-ence. For in),ance, &en'a=) +o),>
inde+endence +lanning *l-e+rin,, ,(e )e))ion +a+er ?10 of 196! on African
Socialism and its Application to Planning in Kenya. @(ile ,(i) +a+er .a)
aimed a, in,egra,ing ,(e ideal) of #frican )ociali)m ,o +olic', i, ma' (a5e
*een ,(e origin of ,(e dic(o,om' *e,.een A(ig( +o,en,ialB and Alo.
+o,en,ialB /one) in &en'a. T(e +a+er no,ed ,(a, A,o ma1e ,(e econom' gro.
a) fa), a) +o))i*le, de5elo+men, mone' )(o-ld *e in5e),ed .(ere i, .ill 'ield
,(e large), increa)e in ne, o-,+-,. T(i) a++roac( .ill clearl' fa5or ,(e
de5elo+men, of area) (a5ing a*-ndan, na,-ral re)o-rce), good land and
rainfall, ,ran)+or, and +o.er facili,ie), and +eo+le more rece+,i5e ,o, and
ac,i5e in, de5elo+men,.B
The 3e$3"a#h!a2 .a!t$"8 For a long ,ime &en'a (a) *een a +redominan,l'
agric-l,-ral co-n,r'. T(i) mean, ,(a, area) ,(a, .ere )-i,a*le for agric-l,-re
6for *o,( dome),ic con)-m+,ion and ex+or,7 (a5e ,ended ,o *e .ell>o9 o5er
,ime. One can ma1e a ca)-al lin1 *e,.een 2en,ral Pro5inceC,(e lea), +oor
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3
+ro5ince in &en'aCand ,(e fac, ,(a, i, +rod-ce) ,(ree ex+or, cro+) 6,ea,
co9ee, (or,ic-l,-re7 and (a) rela,i5el' good de5elo+men, indica,or). #gro>
ecological condi,ion) of a region ,(erefore )eem ,o *e a rele5an, fac,or in
ex+laining regional di)+ari,ie) in &en'a, (olding o,(er fac,or) con),an,.
9() The E2e!t$"a2 #"$!e-- , the ma"3,a24e0 a"ea-
T(e fac, ,(a, marginali/ed comm-ni,ie) -)-all' (a5e 5er' li,,le ex+o)-re and
-nder),anding a) far a) ,(eir rig(,) and o*liga,ion) a) ci,i/en) i) concerned
ma1e) ,(em )-)ce+,i*le ,o elec,oral mal+rac,ice). T(e' al)o do no, (a5e
ea)' acce)) ,o informa,ion on c-rren, a9air) li1e in o,(er region) in ,(e
co-n,r' (ence are no, a*le ,o engage e9ec,i5el' in ,(e elec,oral +roce)) a)
,(e' )(o-ld.
S#e!:! !ha22e,3e- e;#e"e,!e0 0%",3 the E2e!t$"a2 #"$!e--
1
1. La!< $. <,$/2e03e $. !1! "3ht- a,0 "e-#$,-=2te-> T(i) (a)
*een occa)ioned *' inade;-a,e 5o,er ed-ca,ion and ci5ic ed-ca,ion. For
,(e)e comm-ni,ie) ,(e 5o,er ed-ca,ion .a) done la,e in ,(e elec,oral
calendar and in 5er' fe. area) e)+eciall' in ,(e marginali/ed area) of
"or,(ern &en'a, T-r1ana, @e), Po1o, 4andera, Dari))a @a8ir and Tana
%i5er. T(i) (am+ered i,) im+ac, a) ,(e comm-ni,' life i) largel' dic,a,ed
*' ,(e need for )-r5i5al and con,rolled *' comm-ni,' calendar .(ic( i)
largel' no, :exi*le. Eence ,(e comm-ni,' .a) no, a*le ,o +ar,ici+a,e in
,(e)e 5i,al ac,i5i,ie) ade;-a,el'. T(i) +(enomenon con,ri*-,ed in
increa)ing ,(e n-m*er of ignoran, 5o,er) .(o .ere no, ca+a*le of
+ar,ici+a,ing e9ec,i5el' in ,(e elec,oral +roce)) and a )igni0can, n-m*er
(ad no 1no.ledge a*o-, ,(eir role) a) 5o,er). T(i) ,(erefore i) one of ,(e
ma8or fac,or) .(ic( con,ri*-,ed ,o ,(e (ig( incidence of Fa))i),ed= 5o,er)
.i,( )ome +olling ),a,ion) re+or,ing o5er 100G a))i),ed
2
5o,er). T(i)
lac1 of 1no.ledge al)o im+ac,ed nega,i5el' in 5o,er ,-rno-, in ,(e)e
region).
2. La!< $. #"$#e"2& t"a,e0 Pa"t& a3e,t-( T(e +ar,' agen,) in ,(e
region .ere al)o no, +ro+erl' ,rained and ,(-) co-ld no, *e a*le ,o
-nder,a1e ,(eir .a,c(dog role d-ring ,(e elec,oral +roce)) a) re;-ired.
T(i) crea,ed room for elec,oral mal+rac,ice) *' )ome -n)cr-+-lo-)
elec,oral oHcial). T(i) largel' ex+lain) .(' )ome +re)iding oHcer) in
,(e)e region) (ad ,(e a-daci,' ,o c(a)e all +ar,' agen,) o-, of ,(e
co-n,ing I,all'ing (all and remain .i,( ,(e inc-m*en, mem*er
3
of
+arliamen, .(ile ,all'ing ,(e 5o,e).
3. La!< $. #"$#e" t"a,,3 a,0 #"e#a"at$, $. the e2e!t$"a2
!$mm--$, -ta?. T(i) con,ri*-,ed largel' in +ro5iding room for rigging
and elec,oral mal+rac,ice). $n a n-m*er of con),i,-encie) in T-r1ana,
1
These have been informed by documented evidence from CEDMACs Pre-Election Report.
2
CEDMAC E-day Report
3
Tallyin at !arsen To"n #all-CEDMAC Post Election Report
CEDMAC
4
&a+eng-ria and 4andera @e), ,(e elec,oral commi))ion ),a9 .ere
*eing ,rained a da' or ,.o *efore ,(e +olling da', .(ile in )ome area)
5er' fe. +olling cler1) ,-rned for ,(e ,raining
J
*-, ),ill .en, on ,o
)-+er5i)e and .or1 a) E2& ),a9 d-ring ,(e +olling da'. 3-e ,o ,(i) +oor
,raining ,(e elec,oral commi))ion ),a9 made )ome error) for exam+le
,(ere .ere ca)e) .(ere ,(e 5o,er) .(o (ad *een in ,(e ;-e-e .ere )en,
a.a' .(en i, reac(ed !.+m
!
'e, ,(i) i) con,rar' ,o ,(e E2& la.). T(ere
.ere al)o ca)e) .(ere ,(e +re)iding oHcer) and ,(eir cler1), .(o af,er
,(e end of ,(e 5o,ing +roce)), .ere ,ran)+or,ing ,(e *allo, *oxe) .(ile
,(e' .ere no, )ealed
6
(ence crea,ing )-)+icion, ,en)ion and room for
rigging.
J. P$1e"t& a,0 Lea0e"-h# /th$%t #"$3"e--> T(e comm-ni,'
mem*er) in ,(e region (a5e *een -na*le ,o )ee ,(e lin1 *e,.een
c(oo)ing a good leader .i,( +rogre)) of ,(e region. T(i) i) *eca-)e ,(ere
(a) *een 5er' li,,le im+ro5emen, in ,(e region e5er )ince inde+endence
7
.
T(e region recei5ed large n-m*er and )igni0can, de5elo+men,al
8
+romi)e) .(ic( .ere +ledged *' ,(e +re)iden,ial candida,e) and ,(e
local leader). $n e9ec, if ,(e +ledge) are ,o *e f-l0lled, ,(e)e region) .ill
*e ,ran)formed ,o *e among), ,(e mo), de5elo+ed region) in &en'a.
T(e)e +romi)e) are in e9ec, an admi))ion *' ,(e +oli,ical leader)(i+ of
,(e neglec, of ,(e region) and ,(e comm-ni,ie). T(e -nderde5elo+men,
of ,(e region and ,(e comm-ni,' in general ,(-) ma1e) ,(e elec,ion
+eriod a )ea)on for 5o,er) ,o ge, (ando-,) and no, an o++or,-ni,' for
ge,,ing good leader)(i+. T(i) (a) +er+e,-a,ed *ri*er' and o,(er
mal+rac,ice) d-ring elec,ion ,ime. $n mo), ca)e) ,(e comm-ni,'
mem*er) -)-all' )i, o-,)ide ,(e +olling ),a,ion .ai,ing for ,(e +oli,ician
,o come and +a' ,(em )o ,(a, ,(e' can 5o,e for (im.
!. P$1e"t& a,0 2a!< =a-! ame,te-> 3-e ,o (ar)( ,errain and lac1 of
*a)ic ameni,ie) li1e ea)' acce)) ,o (eal,( cen,er), acce)) ,o .a,er and
food for *o,( (-man) and li5e),oc1, ,(e comm-ni,' mem*er) do no,
5ie. 5o,ing a) a (ig( +riori,'. T(e comm-ni,' mem*er) )+end a
)igni0can, amo-n, of ,(eir ,ime in )earc( for li5eli(ood a) )-c( ,(ere i)
-)-all' (ig( 5o,er a+a,(' in ,(e region. Peo+le .o-ld ra,(er )+end ,(eir
,ime ,ending ,(eir li5e),oc1 and )earc(ing for 0re.ood and .a,er ra,(er
,(an )+end co-n,le)) (o-r) ;-e-ing ,o 5o,e in a (ig(l' di)organi/ed and
of,en ro.d' +olling ),a,ion). T(e )earc( for li5eli(ood (a) al)o a9ec,ed
,(e comm-ni,' acce)) ,o ci5ic and 5o,er ed-ca,ion e)+eciall' .(en )-c(
ini,ia,i5e) are cond-c,ed .i,(o-, ,a1ing in,o con)idera,ion ,(e
comm-ni,' calendar. T(i) .a) ,(e ca)e .i,( ,(e ,iming of ,(e 5o,er
ed-ca,ion .(ic( .a) no, a*le ,o reac( a) man' +eo+le in ,(e region a) i,
)(o-ld (a5e. T(e +oor road infra),r-c,-re and comm-nica,ion ne,.or1)
in ,(e)e region) al)o limi, ,(e comm-ni,'=) +ar,ici+a,ion in ,(e elec,oral
+roce)). T(e +olling ),a,ion) are )ome,ime) 5er' far a+ar, and )ince
4
ibid
5
Ibid
6
Tur$ana %ibish pollin station -CEDMAC E-day Report
7
%enya #uman Development Report &''( )D*
8
CEDMAC Pre-Election report ps +-('.
CEDMAC
5
,(ere are no reg-lar mean) of ,ran)+or, i, *ecome) diHc-l, for ,(e
comm-ni,' mem*er) ,o +ar,ici+a,e e9ec,i5el' and mo), of ,(e ,ime ,(e'
do no, 5o,e.
6. I,tm0at$, =& #"$1,!a2 a0m,-t"at$, a,0 #%=2! $@!e"-.
<ince ,(e)e are ,(e +eo+le .(o re+re)en, ,(e go5ernmen, on ,(e
Fgro-nd=, ,(e' -)-all' ac, .i,( im+-ni,' and ,a1e ,(e la. in,o ,(eir o.n
(and) (ence (ea5il' in:-encing ,(e comm-ni,' 5o,ing +a,,ern). T(i)
manife),ed i,)elf .i,( ,(e ram+an, -)e of go5ernmen, 5e(icle) and
o,(er facili,ie) *' ,(e candida,e)6inc-m*en,)7
9
.T(e +re)ence of
go5ernmen, 5e(icle) in ,(e)e region) i) e;-a,ed .i,( in,imida,ion and
,(erefore if ,(e inc-m*en, cam+aign) -)ing go5ernmen, facili,ie) i, ,end)
,o in:-ence ,(e 5o,er) ,o (i) )ide *eca-)e ,(e' 5ie. 5o,ing a) +-rel' a
go5ernmen, a9air, )ome,(ing .(ic( one i) re;-ired ,o o*e' and
,(erefore ,(e )+ace for al,erna,i5e leader)(i+ i) -)-all' 5er' narro. a)
,(e inc-m*en, -)-all' +o))e)) an ad5an,age o5er (i) ri5al) .
A() PROPOSED RECOMMENDATIONS
1. E,-%"e #"$#e" a,0 ea"2& t"a,,3 .$" the e2e!t$"a2 !$mm--$,
),a9 in ,(e)e region)
Training of elec,oral oHcer) )(o-ld *e done .ell in ad5ance. T(i) i)
im+or,an, a) i, .ill allo. ,(e elec,oral commi))ion ,o iden,if' )-i,a*le
+er)onnel on ,(e gro-nd ,o manage ,(e elec,ion in ,(e region) and .ill
en)-re ,(a, ,(e elec,ion) are cond-c,ed in a free, ,ran)+aren, and a
fair manner. $, .ill al)o em+o.er ,(e elec,oral oHcial) in ,(e region )o
,(a, ,(e' can no, *e in,imida,ed *' ,(e inc-m*en, d-ring ,(e
elec,ioneering +eriod.
2. E,ha,!e !1! e0%!at$, a,0 1$te" e0%!at$, , the "e3$,. T(i)
)(o-ld *e done in order ,o em+o.er ,(e 5o,er) and al)o ,(e +ar,'
agen,) )o ,(a, ,(e' can +ar,ici+a,e in ,(e elec,oral +roce)) in a more
meaningf-l manner. T(i) .ill al)o red-ce ,(e incidence) of *ri*er' and
o,(er elec,oral mal+rac,ice) .(ic( (a5e *een .i,ne))ed *efore.

3. I,t"$0%!e M$=2e #$22,3 -tat$,- a,0 -et %# #$22,3 -tat$,-
near .a,ering (ole) and dam). T(i) .ill enco-rage ,(e comm-ni,' ,o
5o,e a) ,(e' .ill ),ill *e a*le ,o a,,end ,o ,(eir o,(er dail' c(ore) and
),ill +ar,ici+a,e in ,(i) im+or,an, exerci)e. T(i) .ill al)o increa)e ,(e
n-m*er of .omen .(o .ill (a5e ,(e o++or,-ni,' ,o 5o,e.
J. A22$/ .$" #e$#2e t$ 1$te ."$m 0?e"e,t #$22,3 -tat$,- from
.(ere ,(e' regi),ered. 3-e ,o ,(e +oor road infra),r-c,-re and ,(e
na,-re of nomadic li5e) of ,(e)e comm-ni,ie), i, i) recommended ,(a,
,(e elec,oral commi))ion de5elo+ a )'),em .(ic( .ill *e :exi*le ,o
allo. 5o,er) ,o 5o,e in ),a,ion) o,(er ,(an .(ere ,(e' .ere regi),ered
a) 5o,er). T(i) ),ra,eg' ma' a))i), ,(e comm-ni,' mem*er)
+ar,ici+a,e more e9ec,i5el' in ,(e elec,oral +roce)).
9
CEDMAC Pre-election report (Gri!!" #n $i%er &'ir(
CEDMAC
6
End)I
CEDMAC
7