NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug, 22 – Several individuals working for the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Monday evening counted themselves lucky after narrowly escaping an assault on them by unknown assailants.
IEBC in a statement on Twitter revealed that the personnel who were preparing responses to the presidential petition filed against them while at a Nairobi premises were ambushed by goons wielding crude weapons.
“Today, Monday, 22nd August 2022 at around 8:30 pm an organized group of goons wielding crude weapons attempted to attack IEBC personnel preparing responses to Presidential election petitions at a premise within Nairobi. However, they were repulsed by Security,” read a section of the statement from IEBC.
It remains unclear who the assailants were as well as their intentions amid calls by the poll body for speedy investigations into the incident.
“The Commission condemns this act of hooliganism and intimidation, and calls upon the Inspector of Police (IG) to bring to an end this blatant abuse of the Rule of Law,”
Earlier today, Azimio La Umoja – One Kenya Alliance filed a petition at the country’s Apex court, the Supreme Court, challenging the outcome of the August, 9, presidential results.
Azimio Presidential candidate Raila Odinga through his lawyers promised ‘a mother of all legal battles’ in the quest for justice. The veteran politician alongside his team presented physical copies of the petition in court as his legal team said that they had also filed an online copy earlier in the day.
It is alleged that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) failed to tally at least 140,000 votes and as such William Ruto who was declared president-elect did not meet the threshold required by law of 50 per cent plus one of the valid votes cast to be declared the winner.
If the case is ruled in favour of the Odinga-led team in 14 days, then the country will have to brace itself for a repeat poll in 60 days.
“The action we have taken is perfectly in line with the stipulations of our constitution on resolving electoral disputes. It affirms our deep belief in constitutionalism, rule of law, and a peaceful resolution of disputes including high sake ones like the presidential elections,” said Odinga.
The poll body has come under heavy criticism by a section of politicians on how the elections were conducted.
The commission shortly after announcing the presidential election results expressed concerns over the safety of its staff during this election cycle.
Chebukati last week said that some of his staff had been intimidated and harassed through profiling and arbitrary arrests.
“This has instilled fear within the staff, who are now unable to report to the office for duty. This harassment must stop forthwith. During the announcement of the presidential results, the Chairman Wafula Chebukati, Commissioners Prof. Abdi Guliye and Boya Molu, and CS/CEO Marjan H. Marjan were physically attacked, assaulted, and injured by persons in the company of certain political leaders. We call for the arrest and prosecution of these assailants regardless of their political affiliation,”
Police are meanwhile also investigating the murder of Embakasi East Returning Officer Daniel Musyoka who was abducted and found dumped in Loitoktok, Kajiado county.
He was seen at the East Africa School of Aviation where the tallying exercise for the elections was being undertaken.
On the fateful day, he is said to have received a phone call and left the venue never to return.
An analysis of his phone records is also being undertaken by detectives from the homicide division of the DCI.
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