The general election kicked off in the diaspora on Sunday, July 14, 2024, with Rwandans across 70 countries participating in the presidential and parliamentary elections.
In Rwanda, voting started at 7:00 am on Monday, July 15, and is scheduled to close at 3:00 pm.
On Tuesday, July 16, female Members of Parliament, two youth representatives, and one representative of people living with disabilities will be elected by special electoral colleges across the country.
Maraga's Role
According to EAC Secretary-General Veronica Nduva, Maraga will lead a group of 55 observers across the country to monitor how the elections are conducted in line with existing laws.
The team will then be required to file a detailed report, highlighting key aspects of the electoral process including electoral preparedness, polling day events, and result declaration.
'The team will be assessing the level of compliance with the electoral processes and management to the international, regional, and national established laws, principles, and practices,' Maraga stated after his appointment.
'It will also be assessing adherence to the democratic principles of the EAC as enshrined in the Treaty; and offering objective recommendations for continuous improvement for the conduct of such elections.'
Yesterday, Maraga hosted mission heads from the African Union (AU), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) and International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) to a breakfast engagement in Kigali. The Mission heads shared experiences on Rwanda's preparedness for the general election.
Three candidates are vying for the presidency in Rwanda in this year's polls. They are independent candidate Philippe Mpayimana, Frank Habineza, the leader of the Democratic Green Party of Rwanda, and Paul Kagame, the incumbent president and flag bearer of the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF-Inkotanyi).
Maraga served as Kenya's Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya between October 2016 and January 2021.
The former CJ's tenure was marked by the historic nullification of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's election in 2017. It was the first presidential election to be annulled not only in Kenya but also on the whole African continent.
A seven-judge bench led by Maraga cited illegalities and irregularities as the reason for nullifying the election results contested by opposition leader Raila Odinga.
"The greatness of any nation lies in its fidelity to the Constitution and adherence to the rule of law and, above all, respect for God,' Maraga remarked in a brief ruling.
Uhuru easily won a repeat election ordered by the Supreme Court after Odinga's party boycotted the polls.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
