More often than not, the election processes and the overall outcome of an election in Kenya is disputed for one reason or the other.During electioneering period of September 9th 2022, there were a number of issues that occur with Bomas being the Epicentre of tallying the votes.
There were also travelling from the far flung remote areas of the country up to the Capital City, where National leaders are announced and confirmed.
As a result, Egerton University’s Faculty of Law Legal Aid Project (FOLLAP) with support from the European Union and United Nations Development Programme under the Amkeni Wakenya Civil Society Democratic Governance Facility is co-creating the Third National Conference on Access to Justice.
The Deadline for the Full Paper and Poster Submission comes to an end on 4th November 2022. This comes as the process of submission of abstracts, papers, posters, and exhibitions came to an end on 23rd September 2022.
This year’s Conference is themed “Access to Justice During Electioneering Period in Africa in the 21st Century”, the conference will be held in Nakuru County from 14th- 19th November 2022.
Kenya is coming from a hotly contested election outcome, even as the election court made a determination of the Presidential petition. One side of the parties in the case was happy with the outcome as the other side disagreed but respected the outcome.
The issues that were raised in the court met both the qualitative and quantitative tests of the poll processes and outcome.
Nevertheless, Egerton University’s Faculty of Law Legal Aid Project (FOLLAP) has organised a National Legal Aid Conference that provides an opportunity for stakeholders to share experiences and mechanisms of addressing access to justice for the poor and marginalized during the election period in different contexts.
This year’s Conference focuses on a range of thematic areas namely; Trends in electoral processes in Africa in the 21st Century. Another theme is on political parties and the electoral process.
Delegates will discuss on citizen’s participation in the electoral processes as well as the electoral management bodies.
The Judiciary as a pillar of democracy for sustainable peace and development will be a major thematic area. This will bring in the subject of access to justice for the poor and marginalized during election period.
Another area that stakeholders will dwell in is; democracy in the digital age, data protection and the electoral process.
The role of the media in promoting access to justice during election period will be a major area for the delegates in the conference. Access to information and freedom of expression by the media has been a subject of banter about the objective reporting.
The role of the Civil Society Organizations in promoting access to justice in the democratic spaces will be a area of interest. Kenya has had elections where the civil society is a major stakeholder. This includes Human rights bodies, voter education and so on.
While gender justice and the electoral processes will be a thematic area, sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) in the context of electoral process will also be discusses as a separate theme.
The best practices in managing electoral processes will be discussed as well as the right to vote and standards for right holders and duty bearers.
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