Booker, Coons Statement on Kenya Election

WASHINGTON, D.C. –  U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Chris Coons (D-DE), members of the Senate Foreign Relations Africa and Global Health Policy subcommittee, released the following joint statement on yesterday’s election in Kenya. Booker is the Ranking Member of the Africa and Global Health Policy subcommittee.

“Credible, free, and fair elections are the cornerstone of a democratic society. As members of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Africa and Global Health Policy subcommittee, we congratulate the people of Kenya for holding county, parliamentary, and presidential elections yesterday. In the coming days, we urge all parties to respect the will of the Kenyan people and to remain calm as votes are counted.”

“Today, Kenya stands at an important crossroads. It will either be a beacon of democracy, economic vitality, and political stability, or it will falter to violence that could destabilize the country and its neighbors. We urge the candidates and all Kenyans to resolve any disputes through the judiciary and promote national unity by avoiding incitement of violence. We also urge a full investigation of any credible irregularities to be completed within the timeframe allowed by the electoral commission.”

“We commend the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for its preparations and for holding elections on time. We were appalled by the horrifying death of IEBC official Christopher Msando days before the election and call for the perpetrators of this crime to be brought to justice.”

“Kenya is a critical strategic partner of the United States. We applaud the State Department and U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec’s efforts to bring the international community together to provide technical assistance and resources to support the Kenyan election. We are also grateful for the delegation of international election observers who are monitoring the election process, including former Secretary of State John Kerry, Representative Karen Bass, and Former New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman. Finally, we congratulate USAID for its critical work leading up to the election, and the members of Kenya’s robust civil society who have demonstrated to the world that demands for voter education, transparent electoral systems, and inclusive processes make civil society an indispensable element of vigorous and healthy democracies.”