Well-organised! Maraga lauds Rwanda's electoral body

"My people gave me information from all the polling stations"

In Summary
  • In the elections, Paul Kagame was reelected for a fourth term in a landslide victory.

  • Already, President William Ruto has congratulated Kagame after his reelection.

Former Chief Justice David Maraga shakes hand with president Paul Kagame during a meeting on July 17, 2024.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga shakes hand with president Paul Kagame during a meeting on July 17, 2024.
Image: OPR

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has lauded the Rwandan electoral system terming it “well-organised”.

“The electoral process was very peaceful and orderly. In fact one of the best electoral processes I have seen,” Maraga, the head of the EAC Election Observation Mission said.

Maraga said the elections were peaceful unlike in some countries where the democratic exercise is chaotic, and noisy, even up to the polling station.

“That was not witnessed here at all, my people gave me information from all the polling stations that there were no dancing, there was no noise generally,” he stated.

“We have mentioned that in our report. We are also going to mention that in our final report.” 

A joint statement by the AU and COMESA has, however, made some recommendations to the National Electoral Commission (NEC) which they said needs to be fixed.

It has urged the electoral body to build the capacity and raise awareness of polling staff on the role of observers and also consider providing election-related information readily online in all the official languages.

“Review deployment and assignment of volunteers in polling stations to consider ways of further expediting the voting process,” the statement reads in part.

In the elections, Paul Kagame was reelected for a fourth term in a landslide victory.

Already, President William Ruto has congratulated Kagame after his reelection.

"I have the pleasure to convey warmest congratulations upon your re-election to serve a further term as President of the Republic of Rwanda," Ruto said.

Ruto celebrated the sovereign choice of the people and wished him success in steering his nation to the next level.

"We celebrate with you the sovereign choice of the people of Rwanda and wish you success as you continue steering your country in the path of peace, stability and posterity," Ruto said.

"I look forward to continuing working with you in regional and Pan-African affairs in strengthening the bonds of solidarity and fraternity between the peoples of Kenya and Rwanda," he said.

Kagame has been President of Rwanda since the year 2000 and has dominated every election since becoming president with over 90 per cent of the vote.

He has been at the helm of Rwandan politics since his rebel forces took power at the end of the 1994 genocide which killed some 800,000 ethnic Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

In 2017, he won with a staggering 99 per cent.

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