Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioner Dr Roselyn Akombe, who resigned on Wednesday morning, has revealed huge cracks in the poll body ahead of the fresh election.
In a statement seen by Kenyans.co.ke, Akombe stated that while a number of commissioners were committed to overseeing a credible election, others did not care about the consequences of a flawed election.
She expressed fear that some of the IEBC officials' lives are in danger as some areas are extremely volatile but some top commissioners in the electoral body do not want to address the issue.
[caption caption="Dr Roselyn Akombe"]
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"It broke my heart in the last few days to listen to my staff in the field, majority of whom truly want to do the right thing, express to me their safety and security concerns.
"I shared detailed reports from staff in four of the Counties most hit by the ongoing protests – Nairobi, Siaya, Kisumu, and Homa Bay – with the hope that this will bring sobriety to our decision making.
"Instead, this was met with more extremist responses from most Commissioners, who are keen to have an election even if it is at the cost of the lives of our staff and voters," revealed Akombe.
She further added that some of the commissioners are compromised and are serving partisan interests.
"We need the Commission to be courageous and speak out, that this election as planned cannot meet the basic expectations of a credible election.
"Not when the staff are getting last minute instructions on changes in technology and electronic transmission of results...not when Commissioners and staff are intimidated by political actors and protestors and fear for their lives.
[caption caption="Akombe With IEBC Commissioners"]
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"Not when senior Secretariat staff and Commissioners are serving partisan political interests," she stated.
Akombe reiterated that she does not want to be party to 'such a mockery to electoral integrity.'
