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Kenya Stops US Election Education Program Ahead of Polls

by Associated Press

   NAIROBI, KENYA --

   Kenya's government has terminated operations of a U.S.-funded project
   to educate voters, just months before this East African country holds
   its next presidential election. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta last
   week claimed that money coming into the country in the guise of civic
   education is being used to influence Kenyans' electoral decisions.

   Fazul Mohamed, executive director of the agency that regulates
   non-governmental groups, said in a letter to the U.S. government's aid
   agency that it has ended the $20 million International Foundation for
   Electoral Systems program for Kenya's upcoming general election. The
   letter said IFES is not a registered NGO and all foreigners working
   there were doing so illegally.

   The U.S. ambassador to Kenya, Robert F. Godec, on Tuesday expressed
   disappointment "by the attempt to discredit the United States' efforts
   to assist Kenyans in the conduct of free, fair, peaceful and credible
   elections in 2017." In a statement, he said the U.S. assistance had
   been requested by Kenya's government and the Independent Electoral and
   Boundaries Commission and that the project operated under their
   "careful oversight."

   IFES is registered in Kenya under the Companies Act and has legal
   standing to conduct programs, the ambassador said.

   In a separate statement, 11 countries including the U.S. said they do
   not provide electoral assistance to influence the election results for
   any side, political party or candidate. "The Kenyan people alone have
   the sovereign right to choose their leaders, and we fully respect this
   right," the statement said.

   Kenyatta, who will run for re-election next year, has accused
   opposition leader Raila Odinga of conspiring with foreign countries to
   remove his administration. Kenyatta came to power in 2013 riding on a
   wave of resentment at perceived attempts by the West to influence
   elections.

   At the time Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, were facing charges
   of crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court for
   allegedly orchestrating violence after the December 2007 flawed
   election in which former President Mwai Kibaki claimed victory over
   Odinga. More than 1,000 people died and 600,000 were evicted from their
   homes.

   Kenyatta and Ruto were on opposing sides of the conflict but joined
   forces after they were named suspects. Their campaigns spread the
   message that the ICC charges were meant to clear the way for Odinga. A
   comment by a U.S. diplomat that "choices have consequences" was taken
   by some Kenyans as an example of the West's interference.

   The charges against the two have since been dropped, but the ICC
   prosecutor says the lack of evidence was caused by witness interference
   and intimidation.