Paper short abstract:

This paper looks at the quantity and quality of domestic initiatives that received accreditation to conduct observation of Kenya's 2022 polls, and considers the various motivations that different individuals and groups may have in offering their services as observers.

Paper long abstract:

Kenya's elections are always closely 'observed', and the August 2022 polls were no exception. As is so often the case, international and regional missions deployed large numbers of election observers. What is more remarkable is the proliferation of domestic observation missions during this closely fought election. Drawing on Kenya-based fieldwork at different points of the electoral cycle, this paper looks at the factors that motivate domestic organisations to apply for accreditation, and considers the quantity and the quality of the various observation initiatives that the IEBC granted permission to conduct observation. Amid an ongoing debate over the 'crisis' of international election observation, the findings contribute to the literature on the relative strengths and weaknesses of domestic observation initiatives.