Colleagues of the late Gichugu Returning Officer Geoffrey Gitobu revealed on Wednesday, August 31, that the IEBC official termed August 9 general election his last assignment with the electoral body.
According to his colleagues, who eulogized Gitobu during his burial ceremony, the cryptic message had little meaning when said at the time while at the Bomas of Kenya.
"Other returning officers who worked closely with Gitobu have disclosed he stated that this was the last election he would oversee. At the time the meaning of ‘last’ was unknown," Rose Obari, Kasapun Returning Officer said.
In addition, Obari noted as the returning officers ferried ballot boxes to the Bomas of Kenya, Gitobu was cheerful and interacted with other officials at the venue.
A heartbroken Obari added that as electoral officials, they face a range of challenges during the electioneering period that often require divine intervention.
"After we have delivered seats to the winners and they go to celebrate their victory as we go remember the lives of our colleagues who have left us," she sadly added.
The death of Geoffrey Gitobu came as a shock to his family who had earlier insisted their kin did not have prior medical complications.
Overcome by emotions, the late Gitobu's wife could not eulogize her husband. In a letter read by a close relative, she expressed her initial denial that Gitobu died due to natural causes.
"When I heard of your demise, I was in doubt because you did not have any pre-existing condition but the postmortem results cleared my doubts," read the letter in parts.
Another returning officer from Meru, William Ndung'u reiterated that IEBC officials are mandated to ensure credible elections in the country.
He also pointed out that IEBC officials have lives outside the job and families to cater for and therefore should be honored.
Some elected leaders in the area attended the funeral to pay their last respect to the 58-year-old IEBC official.
Kirinyaga MP Njeri Maina urged the family to be strong while area Senator Kamau Murango echoed Njeri's words at the funeral.
The 58-year-old who collapsed abruptly was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital on Monday, August 22.
After a postmortem, it was revealed that Gitobu succumbed to a blood clot in the artery. The report dismissed prior speculations that he was murdered.
His death was reported days after Embakasi East Returning Officer, Daniel Musyoka was found murdered in Kajiado county.
