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Murder of Kenya elections IT chief: US, UK offer probe assistance

Murder of Kenya elections IT chief: US, UK offer probe assistance

Kenya

The United States and United Kingdom have offered to help unravel the circumstances surrounding the death of Chris Msando, a top official of Kenya’s electoral body.

According to local media reports, ambassadors of both countries (Robert Godec of the U.S. and the U.K’s Nic Hailey whiles condemning the death and commending government efforts to get to the bottom of the murder added that: “We have offered our assistance in the investigation.”

Even though Kenyan authorities have launched an investigation into the matter, there has not been any communication to the effect that external assistance has been or will be sought.

Msando, the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Information and Communications Technology (ICT) expert was found dead with a severed arm in a suburb of Nairobi on Monday. He was found barely 24-hours after the IEBC had declared him missing.

The Head of Kenya’s electoral body, however, said the former IT chief was tortured before he was killed. “There’s no doubt that he was tortured and murdered,” Wafula Chebukati told journalists outside the City Mortuary, where the body of Msando, had been deposited.

“The only issue is who killed him and why … I demand from the government that they provide security for all members of the IEBC for them to give Kenya free and fair elections,” he stressed.

It is highly likely that his death will in no way affect the conduct of the polls. Even though it is a general election involving election of a president, members of parliament and county assemblies, the presidential race is the most keenly contested.

The race pits incumbent Uhuru Kenyatta who is running for a second term against seven other challengers. Political watchers, however, call it a two-horse race between Kenyatta and former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga.

Kenya elections are usually dogged with ethnic tensions in an already volatile region. It is often the focus of continental and global players due to its sensitivity.

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