Akombe Asks Havi to Represent Her in Msando Murder Trial

Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioner, Dr Roselyne Akombe.
Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioner, Dr Roselyn Akombe.
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Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioner, Dr. Roselyne Akombe on Thursday, July 30, resurfaced and announced that she was ready to provide her testimony on the unsolved murder of her former colleague, Chris Msando.

Dr. Akombe reached out to the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi and asked that he represent her.

"On this anniversary of my colleague Msando’s murder, could you take this case up in the public’s interest? As I have said in the past, I am ready to testify," she asked the LSK President on Twitter.

Efforts by Kenyans.co.ke, to reach Havi to ascertain if he had accepted her request went unanswered by the time of publishing.

Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi addresses the media on Monday, June 8, 2020
Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi addresses the media on Monday, June 8, 2020
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Her decision to take the stand came on the very day that the late Msando's family was marking the 3rd year since his gruesome murder at the hands of unknown assailants.

The former IEBC ICT manager was found murdered and his body dumped in a thicket in Kikuyu, Kiambu County with his wrists slit nearly a week after he went missing.

According to former Inspector General of Police, Joseph Boinnet, prior to his torture and murder, the former IEBC Commissioner had presented himself to the police in late 2016 and stated that he was in fear for his life.

“Msando did indeed report to Central Police station on Dec. 22, 2016, that during the month of October, some unknown persons using three cell phone numbers sent him abusive and threatening messages,” Boinnet disclosed.

Six months later, on Friday, August 2, 2017, which was just 6 days to the hotly contested General Election, his widow, Eva Msando reported that he was missing.

Former IEBC ICT Manager Chris Msando gestures at a press conference in 2017 before he was found dead on July 31, 2017
Former IEBC ICT Manager Chris Msando gestures at a press conference in 2017 before he was found dead on July 31, 2017.
Photo
IEBC

He was never to be seen alive again, with the circumstances surrounding his death throwing the entire election commission into disarray.

As expected, the presidential election was a close race with Incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta eventually declared the winner against his close rival, Raila Odinga.

However, on September 1, Kenya's Supreme Court annulled the results of the presidential election, citing irregularities, and ordered a new one within 60 days.

In his ruling Chief Justice David Maraga said the August 8, election had not been "conducted in accordance with the constitution" and declared it "invalid, null and void".

IEBC had declared incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta the winner by a margin of 1.4 million votes, with Raila stating that the commission was "rotten" and demanding resignations and prosecutions.

The rerun was slated for October 27, 2017, but just 9 days before Kenyans were set to once again queue up and vote for their preferred leader, IEBC was once again thrown into disarray.

This time, it was brought about by Dr Akombe's decision to flee the country for the US on October 18, 2017.

"You'll be suicidal to think that nothing will happen to you," she said in reference to Msando's gruesome murder. "I have never felt the kind of fear that I felt in my own country," she added while talking to the BBC upon her arrival in the US.

She went on to add that she had received anonymous death threats and was under immense pressure to resign.

The former IEBC commissioner also revealed that she did not "feel safe enough to be able to go home" in the foreseeable future.

She has remained in the US since and her latest declaration is set to revive one of the darkest moments in country's history, with Msando's widow yet to find justice over her late husband's murder.

Chris Msando’s widow, Eve, with relatives during a memorial service for the slain IEBC official at Christ The King Church, Embakasi, Nairobi on July 29, 2018.
Chris Msando’s widow, Eva Msando, with relatives during a memorial service for the slain IEBC official at Christ The King Church, Embakasi, Nairobi on July 29, 2018.
File
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