EU urges Kenya to hold peaceful elections

The European Union has called on the Kenyan Government to ensure peaceful 2013 elections.

High representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission, Baroness Catherine Ashton announced that the EU has given the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Sh2.4 billion to fund its activities.

Speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Raila Odinga in his office in Nairobi Tuesday, Baroness Ashton said the EU wishes Kenya success in holding peaceful polls.

“We will support efforts to ensure peaceful elections through our observer mission and development of electoral commission. We wish Kenya well in the coming months,” Baroness Ashton said.

The EU’s Sh2.4 billion contribution to IEBC has been given through the UN basket and accounts for 66 percent of the amount.

Mr Odinga assured the international community that the government was doing everything possible to ensure peaceful elections.

“It is the desire of our friends, the EU included, for the elections to be peaceful,” Mr Odinga said.

The PM said the peace conference that started in Nairobi on Monday was part of a "process to sensitise Kenyans on need for responsible conduct during elections".

He said the government was also engaging the civil society, the media, the police, judiciary, political parties, IEBC and Parliament to create an enabling environment for peaceful polls.

He thanked the EU for funding IEBC's activities.