By Eddah Waithaka
In recognition of the International Day of Democracy, which is observed worldwide to assess progress in democratic practices, the Uchaguzi Platform – a coalition of civil society organizations – has expressed grave concerns about the current state of democracy in Kenya.
In a press release issued on September 15, they highlighted critical issues including the shrinking of civic space, inadequate electoral reforms, and threats to freedom of expression.
The Uchaguzi Platform raised concerns about the growing misuse legislation, including the Public Order Act, to suppress peaceful gatherings and demonstrations.
The group specifically highlighted the 2024 Assembly and Demonstrations Bill, which could potentially provide the government with excessive authority to restrict protests.
Abductions, unexplained disappearances, and arbitrary arrests were identified as common tactics used to stifle civic participation, with those who perpetrate these actions rarely facing consequences.
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The statement highlighted police violence against demonstrators, journalists, and human rights defenders. Reporters covering demonstrations have been assaulted, bloggers have received threats, and media organizations have experienced inconsistent access to advertising revenue from government clients.
Uchaguzi stressed that such restrictions undermine democracy and violate fundamental rights protected by the constitution.
The Uchaguzi Platform also expressed concern over the slow progress of electoral reforms, stating that delays in implementing timely and comprehensive changes undermine the integrity of elections.
The lobby called on Parliament to expedite crucial electoral legislation, which includes the referendum bill and the amendments to the IEBC related to constituency boundary delimitation.
An additional critical concern highlighted is the sluggish process of appointing commissioners for Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Uchaguzi noted that the lack of commissioners has resulted in various electoral units being unrepresented, which ultimately weakens democratic and infringes upon citizens’ rights to representation.
The coalition also emphasized worries regarding the backlog of more than 600,000 new card applications, along with thousands of pending requests for replacements of lost IDs. to access government services or participate in elections.
“There is a need to synchronize the civil registry so that once you have an ID , one should automatically be a voter, there is a need for sufficient budget to allow
IEBC to undertake continuous voter registration and education. There is an urgent need to address the litigations relating to issuance of ID cards so that citizens can continue to access government services and also exercises their democratic right to vote, ” read a post on their X platform page.
The introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into electoral has raised concerns, the group highlighted the risks associated with misinformation and disinformation.
Although AI can offer advantages for governance, the government’s involvement in disseminating inconsistent and inaccurate information is deepening public distrust democratic institutions.
Uchaguzi Platform further emphasized the critical need for a unified commitment by citizens, government institutions and electoral stakeholders to sustain democracy. Encouraging active civic participation, the Platform warned that democracy in Kenya risks deteriorating in the absence of robust engagement.
