Activist urges government to consider Nairobi talks as option for transition extension

By Simon Deng

The Executive Director for Community Empowerment for Progress Organization (CEPO), Edmund Yakani has urged the transitional government to consider the ongoing Nairobi peace talks as the only viable action for extending the transition period.

 “As we speak, now the National Election Commission (NEC) is not funded, elections are not possible by December 2024, the creation of conducive environment requires ample time, and therefore, there is need to make Tumaini initiative a success because it is the only option for extending the transition period,” said Yakani in an interview.

He noted that voter education has not started, adding that the full implementation of the security arrangements is also incomplete and yet these are some of the requisite things to guarantee credible elections.

Yakani based on these hiccups to doubt the viability of elections taking place as planned in December 2024.

In May 2024, the government and the non-signatory opposition parties commenced talks under mediation of the Kenyan government.

The parties to the Nairobi talks that include the Real SPLM (R-SPLM) led by Pagan Amum, South Sudan United Front (SSUF) led Gen. Paul Malong Awan recently signed six protocols with the government delegation  on humanitarian access and security arrangements.