Victor EzejaKenya’s electoral body, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has condemned the gruesome killing on duty, its returning officer for Embakasi East Constituency, Mr. Daniel Musyoka, during the recently concluded presidential election in the country.
Mr. Musyoka went missing on 11th August 2022, and his body was later found at Loitoktok, Kajiado County on 15th August 2022.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelApart from the murder of the electoral officer, the commission through a statement signed by the IEBC Chairman, Wafula Chebukati, released on Wednesday, August 17, highlighted other challenges it encountered while conducting the presidential poll such as harassment of staff and misleading reports of the election by some key electoral officials in an attempt to prevent the declaration of the result and cause a rerun exercise.
Lamenting the murder of the electoral officer the commission said “Mr. Musyoka just like the late ICT Manager, Chris Msando, was murdered while on
duty. This was a well-trained officer who performed his duty with utmost honesty, integrity, and dedication. It is unfortunate that his stand to do the right thing cost his life.”
The electoral body extended condolences to the deceased family and called on security agencies “to speedily investigate and apprehend his killers.”
Harassment of commission staff
The commission stated with concern that some of “its critical staff” who carried out their duty “objectively” at the National Tallying Centre are currently being intimidated and harassed through profiling and/or arbitrary arrests. “This has instilled fear within the staff, who are now unable to report to the office for duty,” it added, demanding that the “harassment must stop forthwith.”
“During the announcement of the presidential results, the Chairman Wafula Chebukati, Commissioners Prof. Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu, and CS/CEO Marjan H. Marjan were physically attacked, assaulted, and injured by persons in the company of certain political leaders.”
He called for the arrest of the assailants regardless of their political affiliation.
The chairman pointed out that the chaotic situation has forced the electoral commission to postpone till further notice, the bye-elections slated for 23rd August 2022, for gubernatorial national assembly and count council positions in some parts of the East African country.
Report on the presidential election result
Result of the August 9 election was declared on Monday, August 15, with the incumbent deputy president, Mr. William Ruto emerging as the winner of the election, thereby defeating the rival contender, Raila Odinga.
Supporters of Odinga reportedly protested in some parts of Nairobi the country’s capital apparently rejecting the result.
The 77-year-old former prime minister has also formally issued a statement rejecting the election result, threatening to adopt legal option in challenging the outcome, and urged his supporters to remain calm.
READ ALSO: William Ruto wins Kenyan presidential election
Prior to the final declaration of the presidential election result, four key officials of the Kenya electoral commission claimed they were no part in the election result, alleging that the process was not transparent and therefore, demanded a rerun but the chairman insisted that all was right.
Chebukati in the statement, however, clarified that results of the election as stipulated in the constitution were openly curated from polling stations, remarking that the “2022 General Election is the most transparent election that the Commission has ever held.”
The chairman stated that the demand by the four Commissioners – Juliana Cherera, Francis Wanderi, Justus Nyang’aya and Irene Masit for a re-run, is contrary to their oath of office. “This is tantamount to subverting the Constitution and the sovereign will of the People of Kenya. The Chairperson refused to yield to this unconstitutional and illegal demand and proceeded to declare the results of the Presidential Election as received from the polling stations, and contained in Form 34A, in accordance with the law,” Chebukati stated.
Explaining further about measures taken in line with the law to ensure transparency of the election, he stated that “All result Form 34As were uploaded in real-time and are available in the public portal; the original Form 34As were delivered to the National Returning Officer for tallying and verification by the 290 Constituency Returning Officers and 1 (one) Diaspora Returning Officers; agents of all Presidential candidates participated in an elaborate verification.”
He further stated that the Commission also allowed media, observers, candidates and the general public to have access and tally the results announced at the polling stations, adding that it is the constitutional right of any party to file a petition and the “Commission shall have an opportunity to respond and demonstrate in further detail the circumstances under which the election was conducted, results verified and outcome declared in accordance with the constitution and the law.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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