Vol. 480 No. 6
51 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the current position on the preparation for elections in Kenya; if electoral and constitutional reform will take place before the elections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14620/97]
68 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs the action, if any, he intends to take following claims of Kenyan police brutality. [14741/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 68 together.
The Government and our EU partners continue to be concerned about the political and human rights situation in Kenya. This concern has been heightened by recent outbreaks of violence and fatilities which have underlined the danger of civil strife in Kenya. The EU has strongly condemned such acts of violence in its Declaration of 13 August 1997.
As the House will be aware, a general election is expected to take place in Kenya in the near future although a final date has yet to be announced by the authorities. In anticipation of these elections, the EU and other international donors have been engaged in efforts to ensure a free and fair electoral process with full regard for human rights and the rule of law. The EU has strongly stated its position on the creation of such an open political climate in Kenya in its statement to last April's 53rd Session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights in Geneva. Last week, while attending the 52nd session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, I was able to join our EU partners in reiterating our strong support for early electoral and constitutional reform in Kenya, as stated in the Union's memorandum to the Assembly.
The EU has already raised its concerns directly with the Kenyan Government. Through its participation in the international Donors Democratic Development Group in Nairobi, the Union has also raised them jointly with like-minded countries such as the United States, Canada and Japan. The Government strongly supports this approach and the fact that these concerns are being pursued by the Union, as a potential provider of electoral observers and support, with the Kenyan authorities on an ongoing basis. The main elements in the approach are: full access to the ballot and voter registration; full access by parties to the electorate; access to information and the media; and freedom of assembly.
An inter-party parliamentary group recently agreed a legislative reform package. This, if implemented, will be a significant step towards the removal of legal impediments to freedom of movement and assembly. While I welcome this development and the undertakings for further reforms which have been taken, much will depend on the manner in which the Government of Kenya and the opposition respond to this package in concrete terms over the coming weeks. Along with our European partners, the Government will be monitoring developments closely with a view to ensuring that real progress is made towards the holding of free and fair elections under the aegis of an independent national electoral commission.
