The Effect of Right to Vote and Free and Fair Elections on Human Development in Kenya

Right to Vote and Free and Fair Elections have been used as metric to gauge a state’s Political Security environment and the general Human Security state of a country. This has been evident in the impact and significance of Political Security on state relations and their standing in the community of nations. Kenya has made significant strides in the Political Security space evident by ratification of various international human rights treaties alongside, recommendations for freer and fair elections and the right to vote from the Kriegler and Waki Reports, calls for an impartial administration and an accountable electoral institution continue to surface in every election. This paper recommends promotion of legislation and policy interventions to increase public trust in the exercise of the right to vote, and free and fair elections. Kenya can draw lessons from countries like Ghana, which has made tremendous strides in enhancing its democracy through addressing the electoral architecture that guarantees Right to Vote and free and fair elections.