XII FOREWORD HON. JUSTICE MARTHA KOOME, EGH Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Court of Kenya The electoral process remains central towards the realisation of the goal of democratic governance that is a core aspiration of the 2010 Constitution. The 2022 election cycle – being the third cycle since the 2010 Constitution introduced our electoral laws, principles, standards and institutions – provides a solid basis for evaluating the soundness of our electoral system, electoral jurisprudence and procedures. The Judiciary is one of the institutions that plays a central role in the conduct of credible elections. It is tasked with adjudicating disputes that arise as part of the electoral process. While, traditionally this role was activated at the tail end of the electoral cycle, the interwoven nature of various electoral processes makes the Judiciary a key player throughout the electoral cycle. Under the 2010 Constitution, the courts have been asked to determine crucial questions such as the election date, educational requirements for elective office, resignation of public servants seeking to contest elective positions, regulation of election campaign financing, the procurement of technology in elections, the rights of prisoners and persons living in the diaspora to vote, the delimitation of boundaries, the eligibility of persons who have violated Chapter Six of the Constitution to seek elective office, among others. As an expression of our commitment to deliver on the Judiciary’s dispute resolution mandate, the Judiciary has a standing committee, the Judiciary Committee on Elections (the Committee). The Committee and its predecessor, the Judiciary Working Committee on Election Preparations, have spearheaded administrative arrangements and capacity building measures for Judges of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeal, High Court, and all other Judicial Officers. This enabled the courts to hear and determine 188 election petitions in 2013 and 388 petitions in 2017. BENCH BOOK ON ELECTORAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION