Kenya African National Union (KANU) party leader Gideon Moi has been appointed by the Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland to lead a team of observers in the upcoming general elections in Botswana.

According to the statement posted by KANU‘s director of communications Manasse Nyainda on the party’s official x account on Friday, October 25, 2024, Moi will lead the Commonwealth Expert Team (CET) in the observation as the nation prepares to hold the general election on Wednesday, October 30, 2024.

Nyainda disclosed that Gideon’s team will be comprised of a distinguished group of eminent persons drawn from across the Commonwealth with expertise in politics, elections, media, and civil society.

“Gideon Moi has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Expert Team (CET) to observe the upcoming general elections in Botswana, slated for Wednesday, October 30, 2024,” part of Nyainda’s statement reads.

“Moi will lead a distinguished group of five other eminent persons drawn from across the Commonwealth with expertise in politics, elections, media, and civil society.”

The team will be mandated with engaging crucial electoral stakeholders, who include the electoral management body, political parties, civil society organizations, media representatives, the diplomatic community, and other international and domestic observers.

As part of its tasks, the team led by the former Baringo Senator will also conduct the evaluation of pre-election preparatory activities in different provinces across the country as well as monitoring of the election day procedures.

“During their mission in Botswana, the team will engage with crucial electoral stakeholders, including the electoral management body, political parties, civil society organizations, media representatives, the diplomatic community, and other international and domestic observers,” the statement reads.

“The scope of the observation will include the evaluation of pre-election preparatory activities in different provinces across the country as well as monitoring of the election day procedures, such as the opening, ballot casting, closing, counting, and the transmission and tabulation of results.”

After the general election, the team will be required to compile and release a final report detailing their observations considering all aspects of the electoral process. The report will assess whether the election was conducted per Botswana’s democratic commitments.

According to Scotland, the organisation is committed to ensuring inclusive electoral processes, democracy and respect for human rights.

“While deploying the team, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland, KC, reaffirmed the organization’s unwavering commitment to democracy and human rights, noting that resilient societies are built on free, fair, and inclusive electoral processes,” the statement reads.

PRESS RELEASE

STATEMENT ON THE APPOINTMENT OF HON. GIDEON MOI AS CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMONWEALTH ELECTION OBSERVATION TEAM IN BOTSWANA

Hon. Gideon Moi has been appointed as the Chairperson of the Commonwealth Expert Team (CET) to observe the upcoming general elections in…

— The KANU Party (@KANUParty_ke) October 25, 2024