Kenyans living abroad have called for investigations into chairperson Wafula Chebukati’s claims of intimidation, harassment, violence, profiling, and disappearance of key electoral officials.
In a statement, Kenyans in the United Kingdom, led by Sebastian Onyango, say they are shocked by the revelation made during the announcement of the presidential results
“We call upon the Inspector General of Police, Hillary Mutyambai, to investigate these complaints and bring the perpetrators of these heinous crimes, including the organisers, to book within the next 14 days,” they say.
According to Onyango, Kenyans in the diaspora will be monitoring the situation with a view to taking legal steps to protect any Kenyan in danger for fulfilling their constitutional duty.
Chebukati, while releasing the final presidential poll results at the Bomas of Kenya Monday made it public that two IEBC commissioners including the Chief Executive had been injured in the line of duty.
“Right now two of my commissioners and the CEO are injured and being treated. We have staff who have been profiled and others have been arbitrarily arrested,” the commission’s chair said.
According to the IEBC, the Embakasi East Returning Officer identified as Daniel Musyoka went missing on Thursday, while on duty at the East African School of Aviation tallying center.
The diaspora Kenya further state that the Inspector General of Police must demonstrate competence, desist from the negligence of duty, and uphold his oath of office and responsibility to the people of Kenya who pay his wages.
“The job of maintaining law and order and the security of every Kenyan remains the responsibility of the Inspector general and his officers. It is a noble and sacred duty that the inspector general cannot relegate or delegate and watch as hooligans embark on a reign of terror to subvert the will of the people of Kenya. No Kenyan should die because their candidate has lost or won an election or because they have been an election official.”
“We want to offer our support and encouragement to the affected electoral officials and their families, and to urge them not to be cowed by these cowardly and shadowy bodies whose brief is to undermine the sovereign will of the people of Kenya by attempting to sabotage our collective ability to decide on who should govern our country,” the statement read in part.
They further called on all Kenyans to stand with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for taking all practical steps to ensure that the 2022 elections have been conducted freely, fairly,independently and that the results are verifiable as directed by the Supreme Court.
However, diaspora Kenyans have also showered their congratulatory message on the incoming fifth head of state and his running mate.
“We take this chance to congratulate His Excellencies, Dr William Samoie Ruto and his running mate Rigathi Gachagua, on the occasion of winning the presidential race and all the winners and losers for offering the electorate a chance to make decision about their governance.”
“We wish all winners success and all the best and urge that as they take office, they purpose to make all decisions with the best interest of the people of Kenya at heart and no one else.” they say.
Further. they have urged losers who are dissatisfied with the outcome to file petitions in court as provided for by law.
“We urge all supporters to recognise that we can only have one government and that in any competition it is always going to lead to losers and winners and both support the advancement of democracy,” Onyango said.
