Kenyan electoral commissioner slams international community in emotional interview

david nganga

October 19, 2017 1:36 PM

Dr.Akombe broke down in tears in her second interview with a foreign media station after declaring her resignation on BBC on Wednesday.

Former IEBC Commissioner Roselyn Akombe has criticized the international community whom she says have blindly backed a “deeply flawed” electoral system.

Speaking during an interview with American NPR radio, Dr. Akombefaulted the foreign observers for overseeing the Aug 8 election without questioning the entirety of the whole process.

“It’s a complex situation and where you have international community fully supporting the entire process, without questioning any part of such process."

“In other countries that I have worked, the international community should have been the first to raise these concerns,” Dr.Akombe said in what was her second interview with a foreign media after declaring her resignation on BBC on Wednesday.

She blamed the international community for turning a blind eye on Kenya in failing to tell the world about the environment in which the Oct 26 election re-run will be held.

“You have not heard anybody from the international community explain whether we have environment that will lead us to have a fair and credible election,” she said.

Emotional

The former commissioner got emotional while dispelling rumors that she was working as an 'opposition-mole' while at the electoral body.

“I cannot be a crazy person who has woken up and is raising these issues. I’m speaking out because I care for that country, I passionately care about my country. I do not want to see my country going down again,” she said as she fought back her tears.

“I am speaking out because I’m hoping that there are some sober heads who will take this up and redeem that country (Kenya), before it goes down the drain…sorry you got me a bit emotional, I wouldn’t be able to continue with this interview,” she told the interviewer.

Political interference

In the wake of her resignation, IEBC Chairperson Wafula Chebukati warned political leaders against interfering with the commission ahead of the repeat poll.

“I issue a stern warning to both sides to stop interfering with the work of the commission," he said.

david nganga