Electoral laws should be amended to make bribing of voters illegal, a new report says.

A 1997 General Election Report launched yesterday says the law should be structured to imbue honesty and fairness in the entire electoral process.

The report, financed by the United Nations Development Programme and published by the Electoral Commission of Kenya, also suggests that all political par ties be publicly funded during the electioneering process.

The report recommends that the function of registering political parties be vested in the ECK "to ensure fairness in the exercise and avoid registering parties at a time when an impending General Election can be jeopardised".

The 155-page document reveals that acts of violence and intimidation during the last General Election severely affected women candidates.

"Women were also unable to fully exploit the campaign time as they could not conduct door-to-door campaigns, especially late into the night," it says.

The government is urged to practise gender equity in training and posting of officials in election activities.

The three publications, 1997 General Election Report, Voter Education Booklet and 1998 ECK Annual Report, were launched at a ceremony held at Parliament Buildings yesterday.

Speaking at the launch Electoral Commission chairman Samuel Kivuitu said the polls body needed adequate funds, trained staff and proper planning if it is to be efficient.

He said there was nothing to show that the last General Election was not fair.

"No MP can say that he or she was not elected fairly and justifiably," he said, adding that any difficulties experienced in the elections could not be attributed to any person or party.

He said, however, lack of funds, abrupt changes in the number of candidates, the number of political parties and poor communication between commission and election officials hampered smooth operations.

There is a need for the government to stress voter education, he said, urging NGOs to participate in the campaign since they were reliable as non-partisan players.

The deputy resident representative of the United Nations Development Programme, Mr Macleod Nyirongo, urged the ECK to put in place stringent measures to ensure elections are conducted fairly and independently.

National Democratic Party leader Raila Odinga appealed for the enactment a law that would establish an independent Electoral Commission "as is the case in South Africa".

The publications will be distributed free to institutions, including government departments, colleges and libraries.

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