UN urges Kenya's civil society to play role in ensuring peaceful elections

The United Nations on Thursday urged Kenya's civil society to play a role in ensuring that the August general elections are peaceful.

UN Resident Coordinator in Kenya Siddharth Chatterjee told a civil society forum in Nairobi that the country's civil society has won admiration among peers in many places on the African continent and beyond.

"As a result, I am sure that civil society will partner with stakeholders to ensure that the August polls will be peaceful, free and fair," Chatterjee said during the Second National Summit of Public Benefit Organizations Leaders.

The day-long event brought over 300 participants drawn from various civil society organizations to deliberate on the policy environment governing civil society organizations.

The UN agency has also reiterated its commitment to provide technical and financial support to assist Kenya in conducting peaceful elections.

Chatterjee said the civil society played an instrumental role in ensuring Kenya developed and implemented a progressive constitution in 2010.

He noted that the civil society is already conducting civic education to residents in far flung areas so as to strengthen citizenship participation in the upcoming elections.

The UN official observed that the civil society is also playing a role in mobilizing eligible citizens to register as voters.

He urged the civil society to remain an impartial partner in the elections and ensure that elections outcomes reflect the will of the people.

The resident coordinator noted that it is not uncommon for relations between government and civil society to experience challenges.

"What is critical is that both parties pursue the best interests of citizens so that their living standards are improved," Chatterjee noted. Endit