Kenya’s poll commissioner quits over ‘electoral mockery’

One of Kenya’s electoral commissioners has quit just eight days to Kenya’s repeat elections indicating that the polls as planned will not meet the basic expectations of a credible election.

Dr. Roselyn Akombe sent a lengthy letter from New York, where she previously worked at the United Nations.

Akombe, a key commissioner at the electoral commission said the poll agency in its current state can not guarantee a credible election later this month.

She further stated that she would not be party to what she termed as “electoral mockery.”

The electoral commission is yet to comment on the resignation.

Meanwhile Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta says there is no political crisis in the country and rejected calls for dialogue between him and his political rival Raila Odinga over a political standoff.

Kenyatta has accused his opponent of provoking violence and insisted that the country must go to the polls.

Odinga who has withdrawn from the re-run until the electoral commission implements reforms told his supporters that countrywide protests would continue daily, beginning Monday until the commission institutes the reforms.

The European Union’s observer mission on Monday called for dialogue and compromises to allow for a peaceful and transparent electoral process.

– By Sarah Kimani