In Kenya, civil society denounces climate of insecurity surrounding the electoral commission
In a polling station in Garden City Estate, in Nairobi, Sarah Muthoni, president of the office, counts the ballots, in front of the tellers of the political parties, August 9, 2022. © RFI / Laura-Angela Bagnetto
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A context of insecurity condemned by several NGOs in front of the press on Friday.
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With our correspondent in Nairobi,
Albane Thirouard
Commission President Wafula Chebukati
declared William Ruto the winner of the presidential
election on Monday .
But just before its announcement, four of the seven members of the Commission dissociated themselves from the results, denouncing an opaque process.
Scuffles also broke out on the podium of the vote counting center in Nairobi.
Wafula Chebukati said on Wednesday he was forced to suspend several local elections that had been postponed until August 23, citing acts of harassment towards his agents.
But more serious things happened.
They worry civil society associations.
Among others, the alleged murder of Daniel Musyoka, one of the Commission agents who was in charge of supervising the poll in a constituency in the east of Nairobi.
He had disappeared on August 11.
His body was found Monday evening covered in bruises and with strangulation marks.
Another electoral agent, in Wajir County, in the northeast of the country, was shot three times in the leg while on duty.
He survived but had to be amputated.
Davis Malombe is the director of the Kenyan Human Rights Commission, a national NGO.
He condemns these acts of violence.
“
It creates an environment of fear.
The case of Daniel Musyoka is not an isolated incident.
Several officials responsible for supervising the ballot are also targeted on social networks.
Members of the Commission face great pressure and threats.
Some are called traitors in their native region.
Politicians must call on their supporters to stop victimizing these officials.
These attitudes really worry us, especially since they may also affect the way the elections will be conducted in the future.
»
Human rights associations are calling for an investigation into the crimes committed against Commission officials.
And recall the case of Chris Msando, an electoral official who was assassinated in 2017, a few days before the election, and whose family has still not obtained justice.
The associations are also concerned about the consequences of dissent within the Electoral Commission, which they believe has damaged the credibility of the process and the results in the eyes of the public.
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