By G. Asege and J. L Andrew
The Chief Justice Emeritus David Kenani Maraga of the Republic of Kenya is leading East African Community Election Observation Mission for the Rwanda general election 2024.
The mission, consisting of 55 observers selected from various EAC entities, aims to oversee Rwanda’s upcoming general elections scheduled for July 15, 2024.
Participants include East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) members, national parliament members, national electoral commission representatives, human rights commissions, ministers of EAC affairs, and youth ambassadors from Kenya, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Veronica Nduva, the East African Community (EAC) Secretary General stressed that the EAC is dedicated to promoting democracy in its partner states by emphasizing good governance and democracy at both national and regional levels.
She said election observation is a key tool in improving electoral processes, as mandated by the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC.
As neutral observers, she said their mission is to assess compliance with the law and democratic principles outlined in the EAC Treaty to ensure a smooth electoral process.
Maraga (lead observer), emphasized the importance of their mission as neutral observers to report on the electoral process’ compliance with the law of the land.
He said their focus is on ensuring a smooth process and assessing adherence to the democratic principles of the EAC as outlined in the EAC Treaty.
Upon arrival in Rwanda on July 8, 2024, the team was deployed throughout the country in 30 districts within the four provinces, and is scheduled to return to the mission headquarters in Kigali on July 16.
He said the field reports gathered will aid in the preparation of a preliminary statement by the bloc’s mission, which is set to be released on July 17.
The team leader expressed gratitude for the peaceful electoral, political, and security environment observed thus far.
He extended thanks to the political leadership, the people of Rwanda, and the electoral institutions for their cooperation. He emphasized that a successful general election would not only benefit Rwanda but also the entire East African Community.
Who is Maraga?
Maraga was born on Janury 12, 1951. He is a Kenyan lawyer and jurist.
He graduated as a lawyer from the University of Nairobi, before going into private practice.
He was appointed a judge in 2003 and rose to join the Court of Appeal in 2012.
He was the 14th Chief Justice of Kenya and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya from October 2016 until his retirement in January 2021.
Annulling Kenyan elections
Maraga, along with three of his colleagues, created a significant moment in Kenyan and African history by annulling the August presidential election 2017, a move that had never been seen before on the continent.
Many observers and legal experts praised Maraga for his integrity, often linking it to his strong adherence to the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) faith.
During an interview, he made it clear that he would not preside over any cases on a Saturday (Sabbath), a day of rest and worship for Seventh-day Adventists.
Some speculate that this preference may have influenced the timing of the first sitting of the presidential election petition, which took place on a Saturday night after the Sabbath had ended.
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