The US Government will assist Kenya have a peaceful transition, Assistant Secretary of State Rick Barton has said. He said the US would commit its experienced manpower to build Kenya’s electoral process handling capacity in ensuring a peaceful transition after the 2013 General Election. Barton said the US State Department is cooperating with various Kenyan State and non-state agencies to quell any upheavals associated with the elections for preservation of harmony. Barton, who is in charge of Conflict and Stabilisation Operations, said staff from the US Government are in the country to build the country’s capacity.
He said they were meeting youth, civil society, community elders, the business community and religious leaders to discuss the enhancement of peace in the transition to a new constitutional dispensation.
Barton added that their brief is to meet to discuss ways in which the US can assist Kenyan efforts to prevent conflict and ensure electoral security. “The US is eager as a friend to Kenya in ensuring a peaceful, free and fair election process as possible,” said Barton. Barton, who has been in the country together with his team of conflict experts said the team had already toured the Coast and Nairobi regions before the Rift Valley.
“We have for instance been meeting groups that have already initiated voter education which is an enormous task given the short time ahead of the elections,” he said.
The envoy singled out the media as instrumental in accelerating voter education and promised to expand the capacity of civil society for a demonstrated output.
He divulged that the US Government was extending technical and expertise in virtually all areas surrounding the elections. Barton praised Kenya’s impressive and progressive reforms agenda that were significant to the country’s growth. He said it was incumbent upon Kenyans to adopt a zero tolerance policy as the acceptable way to adherence to change. Barton, however, urged Kenyans to be patient as some of the changes were bound to take much time before they could be felt. “The country has had a very good start and we are committed to ensuring the success of the process,” he said.
By Michael Wesonga, standardmedia.
