Kenya election chief casts doubt on ‘free, fair’ poll

– Free, fair poll ‘compromised’ –

Chebukati outlined steps taken to ensure all tallying forms were standardised, that network coverage to allow transmission of results was improved and that poll officials were better trained.

But he questioned how credible the election would be if Odinga did not take part, raising examples of polls boycotted in Zimbabwe and Burundi, leading to long-term legitimacy issues and economical crises.

“I’ve made several attempts to make critical changes but all my motions have been defeated by a majority of the commissioners,” he told journalists.

He said that without changes to key secretariat staff — the permanent members of the IEBC — a “free, fair and credible election will surely be compromised.”

He called on these members to “step aside to allow this team to function without interference.”

Kenya’s IEBC has a controversial history. A discredited body that presided over a deeply flawed 2007 poll — which triggered violence that killed over 1,100 people — was replaced by commissioners which were forced to resign last year after violent opposition protests.

The body that had overseen elections in 2013 had been accused of bias, mismanagement and was dogged by corruption allegations.

Chebukati appealed to Odinga and Kenyatta, embroiled in a dynastic political feud that started when their fathers fell out after independence, to hold talks to help reduce tensions.

He said he would invite the two men to a meeting presided over by him “so they can talk”.

“Once the Kenyan people see that their leaders are talking and are putting Kenya first, then we can douse the tension in the air.”

– Election ‘at any cost’ –

In her statement Akombe said field staff had in recent days expressed concerns about their safety, especially in areas hit by opposition protests against the IEBC.

In the western opposition stronghold Kisumu, rowdy youths on Wednesday disrupted a training session for polling officials, pulling down tents and chasing away trainees, chanting “no reforms, no elections” as they stoned their vehicles.

Akombe accused her colleagues of seeking “to have an election even if it is at the cost of the lives of our staff and voters.”

Odinga on Tuesday suspended a protest campaign to push for reforms after three people were shot dead in demonstrations.

Some 40 people have now died since the election, mostly at the hands of police, according to rights groups.