EU in Kenya celebrates International Day of Democracy

Today 15 September is the UN's International Day of Democracy. This year's theme of democracy and conflict prevention focuses on the need to strengthen democratic institutions to promote peace and stability.

To mark the day this year, EU Ambassador Stefano A. Dejak joined the British High Commissioner Nic Hailey, the Colombian Ambassador Elizabeth Taylor Jay and Ukraine's Ambassador Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk on NTV's "AM Live". Hosted by Debarl Inea, the breakfast show discussed democracy and conflict prevention, both with reference to this year's elections in Kenya and from a wider international perspective.

Ambassador Dejak and High Commissioner Hailey both underlined the need for stakeholders to respect the independence of electoral machinery. Both also offered historical perspectives, with Ambassador Dejak discussing the origins of European democracy in Greece more than 2000 years ago and the High Commissioner noting that - even 800 years after the signing of the Magna Carta - democracy is still evolving in Britain.