Measures to ensure fair poll on way, says Kibaki

President Kibaki on Wednesday said that the government was putting in place mechanisms to guarantee free and fair elections.

The Head of State was speaking to heads of United Nations agencies accredited to Kenya at his Harambee House office.

The UN resident and humanitarian coordinator in Kenya, Mr Aeneas Chuma, said the organisation’s country team was investing more on early warning and response systems at the national and county levels to ensure that ethno-political tensions are quelled in the lead-up to, during and after the general elections.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission announced March 4, 2013, as Kenya’s next election date though there are some Kenyans who are calling for a December 2012 election.

An earlier election, according to a High Court ruling, is only possible if President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga agree, in writing, to dissolve the coalition government.

Others in attendance at yesterday’s meeting included Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, Foreign Affairs minister Sam Ongeri and the acting Head of Public Service Francis Kimemia. Mr Chuma was accompanied by 11 UN heads.

The president expressed the government’s commitment to extending any support required and to facilitate operations of UN agencies located in the country to enable them to execute their mandate successfully.

President Kibaki said that the government attached great importance in attainment of Millennium Development Goals and eradication of poverty.

He told them that the Kenya Defence Force was part of the Amison mission in Somalia mainly to deal with the Shabaab menace. (PPS)