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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS: Atlanta, Deborah Hakes +1 404 420 5124;
Nairobi, Stephane Mondon +254- 727-582-926

At the invitation of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission and the welcome of political parties, The Carter Center has launched an international election observation mission for Kenya's March 4, 2013, elections.

The early deployment of long-term observers will allow the Center to assess pre-election preparations. The Carter Center also will monitor closely legal and political developments that may impact the election. A field office has been established in Nairobi to guide these efforts.

"The Carter Center hopes that this election observation mission will reassure the Kenyan people that their efforts to reform political institutions can succeed. Competitive and peaceful elections would be one more step in Kenya's transition away from politics of division and strife," said Carter Center Election Mission Field Representative Stephane Mondon.

The Center will deploy 14 long-term observers across Kenya to gain firsthand knowledge of the activities of the election commission, political parties, civil society organizations, and the international community, as well as other domestic and international election observation missions. Their deployment coincides with the formal nomination of candidates.

These observers will be joined by an additional 30 members shortly before the elections. The Center will release periodic public statements on electoral findings, available at www.cartercenter.org.

The Center's observation mission is conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation and Code of Conduct that was adopted at the United Nations in 2005 and has been endorsed by more than 40 election observation groups. The Center assesses the electoral process based on Kenya's national legal framework and its obligations for democratic elections contained in regional and international agreements.

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"Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope."
A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in more than 70 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; improving mental health care; and teaching farmers in developing nations to increase crop production. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide.