𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐁𝐒𝐄𝐑𝐕𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐔𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐔𝐋𝐔𝐌 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖 𝐁𝐎𝐀𝐑𝐃

Front L-R (Mr. Kenneth Abotsi, Col Rhoda Mwasigwa, Mr. Dunstan Wafula, Ms. Anne Kathurima) Back R-L(Ms. Leah Kimathi, Mr. Watson Karuma, Ms.Margaret Cheptile, Ms.Jecinta Kamau)

The Peace and Security Research Department convened a team of experts to review the Election Observation Course (EOC) curriculum and rationale for review.

EOC is one of the fundamental courses on conflict prevention offered at the Peace and Conflict Studies School. The complex nature within which elections are conducted in transitionary or post-conflict context makes election observation a critical tool in realizing credible, transparent, and inclusive electoral processes. 

Elections are conducted in a democratic environment conducive for participation by all interest groups i.e. women, ethnic minorities, the youth. As a result, pre-election observation is a crucial part as it highlights current issues ahead of an election. The election cycle requires rigorous reporting in all stages i.e. pre-election, election, and post-election.

The process is aimed at enhancing election observation for international observers and domestic observers and actors earmarked for election observation in Eastern Africa.

The objectives of the Curriculum Review Board are to; review aim, scope, and target audience, review learning outcomes, and module specifications, integrate gender perspectives in the course content and methodology and revise the course program.

(Curriculum Review Board session at IPSTC Karen in 2022)

𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐎𝐅 𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐔𝐆𝐄𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐃𝐈𝐒𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄𝐃 𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐒

The Protection of Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons course equipped participants’ with knowledge and skills on refugee and IDP protection in the Eastern Africa region to enable them to intervene effectively.

The course targeted military, police, and civilian components undertaking tasks on the protection of refugees and IDPs at the strategic, operational, and tactical levels. The two-week course took place at the Peace and Conflict Studies School, Karen. It had 23 participants drawn from diverse countries namely Kenya, Zambia, South Sudan, USA, and Pakistan.

Who is a refugee and an Internally Displaced Person?

Refugees are people who have crossed international frontiers and are at risk or have been victims of persecution in their country of origin. Internally Displaced persons on the other hand have not crossed an end frontier but have also had to flee their homes.

Why do we need to protect refugees?

Protection of refugees and Internally Displaced Persons is an international obligation stemming from the right to seek asylum which is explicit in international human rights law and implicit in the 1951 Convention Relating to Status of Refugees. In 2016, the United Nations community adopted the New York Declaration for Refugees and Migrants. Member states vowed to protect and respect the rights of refugees and migrants.

(Mr. Kambela Lweendo Zambia, Mrs. Linet Opiyo Kenya, Mr. Ayman Masoud South Sudan)

How can we protect Refugees?

Refugees are protected by Refugees laws, mainly the convention relating to the status of refugees (1951) and the convention governing the specific aspects of refugees problems in Africa (1969) and human rights law and particularly by the principle of non-refoulement. They fall under the mandate of the office of UNHCR.

Refugees are also protected by International Humanitarian Law when they are in the state involved in an armed conflict. Refugees receive, besides the general protection afforded to civilians by IHL, special protection by the fourth Geneva convention and additional protocol I. Article 44 of the fourth Geneva convention specifies the detaining power should not treat as alien enemy refugees who do not in fact enjoy the protection of any government. Article 73 of additional protocol I adds that refugees must be regarded as protected persons in all circumstances and without any adverse distinction.

(Sp Pauline Njeri Kenya, Lt Col Mazhar Iqbal Pakistan, Maj Bryon Davison USA, Mr. Joseph Parmisa Kenya)

𝐌𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐂𝐈𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐒 𝐎𝐅𝐅𝐈𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐈𝐍𝐃𝐔𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒𝐄

The Medical specialists' Officers Induction training was officially opened today, 14th Dec 2021 by Brig (Dr.) King'ori Chief Medical Officer Kenya Defence Forces Memorial Hospital at the Humanitarian Peace Support School, Embakasi. In attendance were Chief of Medical DHQ Brig (Dr.) Odhiambo, Chief of Clinical Services DHQ Brig (Dr.) Ndegwa and other senior officers from KDF Medical Services.

The five-day course is sponsored by the Kenya Defence Forces and the Government of Kenya. It has 85 newly commissioned specialist officers drawn from Kenya Defence Forces Medical Services.

The aim of this training is to integrate the newly commissioned officers into KDF medical services and make them understand the systems and procedures followed by KDF. It will also help them understand the culture, work norms, vision, mission, and goals of the Kenya Defence Force Medical Service.