Credible ballot not possible, says fleeing Kenyan election official
Nairobi — Preparations for Kenya’s presidential election rerun next week are in disarray after a top official of the commission organising the vote resigned and fled the country and its chairman said his efforts to ensure a credible ballot were being thwarted. Roselyn Akombe quit the Independent Electoral & Boundaries Commission (IEBC), citing issues including the intimidation of staff by “political actors” and protesters. She accused unidentified senior personnel of serving partisan interests, according to a statement from New York on Wednesday. IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati said in a briefing in Nairobi that divisions in the commission were impeding his ability to make decisions. “As things stand now, they are not able to conduct an election; if they go ahead, it’s illegitimate,” said Ndung’u Wainaina, executive director of the International Centre for Policy and Conflict in Nairobi. “If they want, the IEBC can invoke constitutional provisions and call off the election. Either ca...
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