NAIROBI - The European Union Mission in Kenya has expressed its satisfaction with the preparations for the August 4th referendum.

The EU has at the same time applauded the Committee of Experts, the Civil Society groups and other players for their concerted efforts to educate the public on matters on the proposed constitution.

Speaking at a Nairobi hotel on Wednesday after holding a briefing session with the Interim Independent Electoral Commission-IIEC- the EU head of delegation to Kenya Eric Van Dar Linden urged Kenyans to come out in large numbers and exercise their democratic rights that will shape the future of the nation.

Speaking at the same meeting the Interim Independent Electoral Commission chair Isaack Hassan assured the public that everything was in order for fair and transparent August 4th referendum.

Hassan called on the government to declare August 4th a public holiday saying that this will enable large turn out of the voters. He urged the public to maintain peace before and after referendum.

On Tuesday the European Union said it will closely monitor the referendum to check if the process is objective.

Mr. Linden said that the International Community and the EU will visit a number of polling stations during the referendum to assess the process.

He said the EU supports the ongoing reforms in the country and would like to see Agenda 4 reforms implemented.

The Envoy added that the EU wants the process to be peaceful and leave the country united no matter the outcome of the vote.

Training

Meanwhile, the IIEC has started training the presiding officers in preparation for the forth coming referendum.

Malindi returning officer Mr. Hamisi Tsumo said the training will ensure that errors were reduced hence fair results of the exercise.

The returning officer said that the commission had so far received enough material to facilitate the training.

Elsewhere, electoral officers have been asked to be fair and impartial in carrying out the referendum election so that there may be peace in the country.

Eldoret North Constituency Returning Officer, Mr. Japheth Lagat, asked the Presiding Officers and their deputies to conduct the voting in an open and transparent manner so that both parties involved in the battle for votes feel satisfied.

He urged the officers to conduct the poll according to the laid down regulations and observe personal integrity so that there will be no case of disputed poll.

Addressing presiding and their deputies during a two-day training workshop for the officers at an Eldoret Hotel, Mr. Lagat said the 2008 post election violence was caused by disputed polls and asked all those that will participate in managing the elections to be patriotic to their country and produce good results.

"The constituency has many hotspots according to the media reports and it is up to the officers to conduct the poll in a professional way so that everybody interested sees it as free and fair," said Mr. Lagat.

He asked the officers to seek for consensus during the counting of votes so that all parties involved in the poll leave the polling station satisfied.

Source: KBC