Maraga commends Rwanda for peaceful, diligent elections

Former Chief Justice David Maraga has praised the people of Rwanda for the way they conducted themselves during the recently concluded presidential elections that saw Paul Kagame emerge as the winner.

Maraga, who headed the EAC Election Observation Mission to Rwanda elections said the country’s electoral process was conducted in a calm and peaceful environment that enabled everyone to participate freely.

In his view, the poll was the best he has witnessed in the continent highlighting meticulous preparations and orderly conduct from the campaigns, voting, counting, and tallying, as well as the declaration of final results.

“The electoral process is very orderly and very peaceful. It was in fact, one of the best-organized electoral processes I have seen. It was commendable,” said Maraga after the declaration of final results

The former Chief Justice noted that for the entirety of the electoral process, there was not a single incident, especially as far as disruption of the exercise is concerned. He cited the poll as one that many in the continent can emulate.

“The organization was super. We have seen elections in some places which are chaotic – like seeing the rowdy, noisy (people) even to the polling stations in the polling day, that was not here at all,” he said

Paul Kagame got a fourth term in office as electoral authorities declared him the winner of the Rwanda presidential election after garnering 99.15 percent of the votes.