By Dennis Muritu
The Kenya South Sudan Liaison Office (KESSULO), under the Executive Office of the President, will host a one-week technical study tour for the South Sudan National Elections Commission (NEC) from February 17th to 22nd, 2025, at the Kenya School of Government (KSG) in Kabete. The workshop aims to bolster the NEC’s technical capacity for managing free, fair, credible, and inclusive elections.
The study tour, themed “Empowering South Sudan National Elections Commission (NEC) to Enhance Technical Capacity for the Effective Management of Free, Fair, Credible and Inclusive Elections,” is a collaborative effort between KESSULO and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), with support from KSG and JICA.
Thirty-four members of the South Sudan NEC, including the Chairperson, CEO, Commissioners, ICT and voter outreach staff, and members of the SHEC and department heads, will participate in the training. Key areas of focus will include electoral management and legal frameworks, the electoral cycle and voter registration, public outreach and civic education, external relations and stakeholder engagement (including media, political parties, and CSOs), media and communication strategies, information and communication technology, and cybersecurity.
High-profile guests are expected to attend, including the Ambassador of the Republic of South Sudan to Kenya, Monica Achol Aguek; the Director-General of KSG, Prof. Nura Mohammed; the Chairperson of the South Sudan NEC, Abednego Akok Kacuol; the IEBC Secretary/CEO, Marjan H. Marjan; and the Tumaini Initiative Chief Mediator. Media representatives and the MFA Director of African Affairs have also been invited.
KESSULO, established under the Executive Office of the President, coordinates and facilitates Kenya’s technical assistance and capacity building programs for South Sudan’s public service. This initiative aligns with KESSULO’s mandate to advance Kenya’s strategic interests regionally and internationally, as outlined in the Executive Office of the President’s service charter.
KESSULO aims to train at least 80 staff from the South Sudan public service annually.
This workshop builds upon Kenya’s longstanding commitment to supporting South Sudan’s development. Since the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA), Kenya has played a crucial role in South Sudan’s transition, including facilitating the training of over 8,561 South Sudanese civil servants in various sectors.
This study tour is the latest example of ongoing efforts to strengthen democratic institutions and promote stability in the region.
