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Kenya's highly anticipated general elections next week hold "huge significance" for many people across Africa and the globe, envoys of 14 countries said in a joint statement on Friday.
"This election is of huge significance. It marks the first full transition in the presidency and many governorships since the introduction of the 2010 Constitution," read the statement by embassies and high commissions of Australia, Canada, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK, and US.
Amid fears of possible violence and disputes over the results of the Aug. 9 elections, the statement called on all leaders "to ensure the democratic progress of the last decade is preserved."
"Kenya is an anchor for stability, security, and democracy – not just in the region, or on this continent, but across the globe. It is in this spirit of partnership that we, like others across the world, look forward to a free, fair, and peaceful election," the statement said.
"We encourage all candidates to adhere to the peace pledge and charter," it added.
Kenya grappled with months of post-election violence in 2017 that claimed dozens of lives, while deadly clashes after the 2007 polls killed over 1,100 people and displaced thousands more throughout the country.
Over 22 million registered voters in the country of some 54 million will have their say as Kenya elects a new president, parliament, members of 47 county assemblies and county governors.
Having served the maximum possible two terms, incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta is out of the presidential contest.
It is now a two-horse race between 55-year-old William Ruto, Kenya's deputy president since 2013, and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, 77, who heads the Orange Democratic Movement.
Kenyatta has opted to support Odinga, his former rival for the top post who is making his fifth presidential run, rather than his own deputy. -
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