Amid every election cycle in Kenya since 2002 till 2022, the European Union has remained an active player where it has deployed Election Observation Missions upon invitation from the Kenyan Government.
And as Kenya gears up for the 2027 elections, the European Union says it is ready to cooperate with Kenya in its election preparedness, should Kenya show interest. According to the new EU Ambassador to Kenya, Andreas Peschke, the union will not interfere in the country’s elections.
“We do not want to interfere at all, and we also do not want to be seen as interfering with the election of a sovereign state in any country, and obviously not in Kenya as well. So what we can look at is, you know, mutually strengthening our democratic institutes.”
In an exclusive interview with TV47 Digital, Peschke noted that, should Kenya show interest in the support of the EU, it will provide technical preparedness to the electoral commission as well as assist voter education countrywide.
In a progress report of the 2022 elections, a European Union Election Follow-up Mission (EU EFM) team noted that there is need to build trust in IEBC’s duties, as well as implement improvements in electoral technology through regular audits and stakeholder consultation.
On Tuesday this week, Peschke was among eight other envoys who presented their credentials to President William Ruto at State House, as he took over the mantle from Henriette Geiger. As Peschke begins his five year mandate in Kenya, he acknowledges Kenya’s democracy short-comings, including police brutality and human rights violations.
“I think our societies are not without challenges. …. So I think what we need to do in times like this is to strengthen our cooperation, to really strengthen and retain our democratic resilience.”
In July this year Kenya and EU launched a 10 year Economic partnership aimed at helping local businesses fully tap into the European Union market. Peschke says that, as he settles in his new role, his immediate priorities will be to ensure a win-win partnership between European and Kenyan investors.
“So business climate in any given country is very important to attract investment. And, you know, what companies want most is a reliable environment and predictability, so that, you know, they know what the rules are, that they can adapt to them, and then try to work within that framework. If you change the rules too often, then it can create a problem.”
Peschke, who was previously the German ambassador to South Africa, Lesotho and eSwatini, has been in Kenya two weeks now. He says he received a warm reception into the country and is anticipating to travel beyond Nairobi.
