S5 E14: Proactive Disclosure of Information during Elections in Kenya

<p>A conversation with Commissioner Lawrence Mute and Adv Jared Gekombe</p> <p>On 22 September 2023, the Centre for Human Rights’ <a href='https://www.chr.up.ac.za/expression-information-and-digital-rights'>Expression, Information and Digital Rights Unit</a> (EIDR) hosted Lawrence Murugu Mute in its podcast series, <a href='https://www.chr.up.ac.za/africa-rights-talk'>the Africa Rights Talk</a>. Mr Mute was the Research Consultant for the report: <a href='https://www.chr.up.ac.za/images/researchunits/dgdr/documents/resources/Proactiive_Disclosure_of_Information_During_Elections_Kenya.pdf'>​​Proactive Disclosure of Information During Elections in Kenya (2021 General Elections)</a>. This report is part of the Centre for Human Rights assessment of state compliance with the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights 2017 <a href='https://achpr.au.int/en/node/894'>Guidelines on Access to Information and Elections in Africa</a> (the Guidelines). The Kenyan assessment was undertaken in partnership with <a href='https://www.article19.org/regional-office/eastern-africa/'>ARTICLE 19 Eastern Africa</a>. </p> <p>In this episode, Mr. Mute and Jared Gekombe discussed the rationale behind the development of the Guidelines by the African Commission and the main findings and recommendations of the report. Mr. Mute outlined the general legal framework on access to information in Kenya and provided an overview of Kenya's compliance with the Guidelines in the 2021 general elections, through the performance of various stakeholders such as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), the media and the civil society. He also elaborated on the recommendations of the report and lessons that other African countries can learn from Kenya's experience. </p> <p>The discussion also took place during the commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the adoption of the African Commission’s <a href='https://www.chr.up.ac.za/images/researchunits/dgdr/documents/resources/model