Kenya’s main opposition leader to lead AU observers to Lesotho polls

Kenya’s opposition Leader Raila Odinga is scheduled to travels to Lesotho on Wednesday as head of the African Union Election Observers Mission to that country’s elections scheduled for February 28, APA learns here Tuesday.
In January, the Commission of the African Union nominated Mr. Odinga to lead its observer mission to the elections in line with the Durban Declaration of July 2002 on the principles regulating democratic elections in Africa.

The Mission comprises 40 trained AU observers from the Permanent Representative Committee (PRC), the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), election management bodies, human right institutions and civil society organisations, all drawn from various African countries.

“The Short Term Observers will complement the work of the AU Long-Term Experts who have been deployed since January 29 and will remain in Lesotho until March 14,� said a statement issued in Nairobi on Tuesday.

As part of its activities, the Mission will meet relevant electoral stakeholders in Lesotho including the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC), leaders of political parties, civil society organisations and other international observer groups before observing the 28 February National Assembly elections across the country. After polling, the Mission will release its preliminary statement at a press conference in Maseru, the capital.

Subsequently, the Mission will produce a more detailed final report with recommendations and will be shared with relevant Lesotho authorities, two months after the election.

Source