By FRED OLUOCH

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The deep political divisions in Kenya caused by the recent elections were extended to European parliament when various groups took sides during the debate on the report by the European Union Election Observer Mission. 

The debate on January 16 was heated, with some members, saying the debate amounts to internal interference.

“What would we say were Kenyans to judge our elections, I am not sure that most Kenyans would. Kenya is more peaceful and a beacon of stability, even though there is a threat of terrorism from Al Shabaab. It is dangerous to destabilise it without getting the details of what went wrong to elections,” said one of the members.

Julie Ward, representing the Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European parliament, said the nullification of the August presidential elections by the Supreme Court brought hope for better democracy, but now the intransigence of Kenyan politicians had dashed the hopes of many.

However, some members demanded electoral reforms and deeper analysis of what happened, and suggested that the European Union should use its funding to Kenya as leverage to ensure that the 29 recommendations by the observer group are implemented.

The group said in its report that democracy in Kenya was under threat due to the intimidated electoral body, voters and judiciary, yet Kenya is crucial to the region because the world expected it to lead the pack.

The head of the EU Observer Mission Marietje Schaake was among those calling for reforms, and narrated how while she was in Kenya, she was often asked whether the EU is holding Kenya and Africa to lower standards of democracy?

“No. It is unacceptable to hold Kenya or another country to lower standards. Instead the EU assesses the extent to which Kenya meets its own legal standards and commitment to human rights,” said Ms Schaake.

She said that the election laid bare the existing tension and created new ones that most Kenyans suffer from, and that some Kenyans complained that the world only gives attention to the country when tensions escalate into violence.

“The standoff has not created many casualties as in 2007, but every death by police bullet is one too many. The report clearly brings out the gap between electoral law and practice,” she said.

Others took a middle ground calling for dialogue between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga.

But the Assembly was unanimous that the EU must use its “soft power” to push for four major areas — strengthening the rule of law and institutions, supporting civil society and respect for human rights, fighting corruption and overcoming ethnic tensions.

The EU Observer Mission, released the report on January 10 in Brussels instead of Nairobi due to what Ms Schaake said was the unwillingness of the government to receive the group.