The mysterious and alarming assault on Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission ( IEBC) offices on Friday night in Ruiru Town by as-yet unidentified persons who escaped with a BVR machine, crucial electoral documents and a gun cannot go unattended.
And since all IEBC offices are usually guarded by police, the attack on the Administration Police officer who was on duty must be slammed for the criminality that it is. In this instance, just like the killers of police officers in Mombasa recently no doubt over election-related matters must galvanise Central head of CID Henry Ondiek and Inspector General of police David Kimaiyo.
Who would need a BVR machine and electoral materials unless they were not on a dark mission? There have already been too many chapters in Kenya’s most recent, most complicated and most important general elections.
Top lawyers
Right from the push-pull over the composition of the electoral commission to reflect the face of Kenya, gender equity, professionalism and bury the ghosts of the defunct Electoral Commission of Kenya of 2007 and tussle over funding and the alleged scandal regarding tendering and procurement of the electronic voter registration kits to the issues of capacity of IEBC to deliver a credible, peaceful and just poll, this has been one roller coaster ride.
It has not been smooth by any stretch of the imagination. The suspicion and innuendo surrounding this just-concluded election just won’t go away.
Indeed, the poll is unconcluded since there is a suit pending at the Supreme Court over the conduct, tallying and integrity of the IEBC process. The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) has an array of top lawyers hoping to overturn Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Alliance victory at the top Court. For now, we shall not comment further on this as the matter is before a competent court of law.
However, we shall not tire to remind all Kenyans that the integrity of the poll process is at the heart of Ballot 2013.
And since there is still one last chapter left in this saga, it is imperative that all elections materials and staff that played any part in this historic exercise, must be guarded jealously because they could be up for summons so that this matter can be summarily and satisfactorily concluded.
No Stone Unturned
Therefore, the news from Ruiru town is as baffling as it is unnerving. Indeed, why would any patriotic Kenyan wish to hurl a spanner into the works at this very delicate juncture of our nationhood? Who stands to gain from stealing or even vandalising electoral machines?
And of what use is a machine that is configured for a specific purpose?
This is one of those instances we brazenly as the Inspector General of police not to leave the proverbial No Stone Unturned to recover the stolen BVR machine, election material and rifle.
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