Brussels, 02/04/2013 (Agence Europe) - Given the Kenyan Supreme Court's confirmation last Saturday of the results of the presidential elections held on 4 March, the electoral process, for which the European Union had deployed an electoral observation mission, is now formally concluded. José Manuel Barroso, European Commission President, said in a statement published on Sunday 31 March, that he congratulated the Kenyan people for its civic-mindedness and for “the successful and largely peaceful conduct of the presidential elections”. He went on to say that he commends those that accepted the result although they had not won the ballot, and that they had only challenged the result through legal channels. “Kenyans can be proud that the political reform process of their country is bearing fruit”, he said, adding that the European Union welcomes the commitment of the new government and of its members to comply with international obligations.
In 2008, the post-electoral violence had lead to a coalition government. A new constitution providing for elections every five years was approved by referendum in 2010. The general elections of 2013 led to the first round victory of Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta. The president-elect is a controversial figure as he is also facing trial at the International Criminal Court for his possible involvement in the violence that occurred during the 2007 election. The charges brought against him have not been lifted. (AN/transl.jl)