Kenya's election chief casts doubt on 'fair' poll

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The head of Kenya's election commission has said that he could not guarantee next week's presidential election will be free and fair, citing interference from politicians and threats of violence against his colleagues.

Wafula Chebukati's statement came hours after another commission member resigned and left the country, saying she and her staff had been repeatedly threatened.

"Ironically, the very people, political leaders, who are supposed to build the nation have become the greatest threat to the peace and stability of the nation," Chebukati told journalists.

Supporters of Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga attend a political rally in Nairobi, Kenya, October 18, 2017. /Reuters Photo

The October 26 poll is the re-run of an election that took place in August, where incumbent president Uhuru Kenyatta's victory was nullified on procedural grounds.

But the run-up to the new poll has been fraught, particularly since Kenyatta's main challenger, opposition leader Raila Odinga, pulled out, alleging a failure to improve oversight of the election.

Odinga has called almost daily protests against the poll and the election commission, pushing East Africa's largest economy deeper into turmoil.

Kenyatta on Wednesday restated his commitment to the poll, but Odinga called for a mass protest on election day – raising the prospect of confrontations between protesters and voters.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta addresses Jubilee Party supporters in Kaloleni, Kilifi County, Kenya, October 10, 2017. /Reuters Photo

"Demonstrations will continue. October 26 will be the biggest demonstration of them all," Odinga told a crowd of several thousand cheering supporters in Nairobi.

Commission head Chebukati said technical preparations for the new poll were on course, but his attempts to make "critical changes," notably to staff, had been defeated by a majority of commissioners. He said he been pressured to resign, without giving further details.

"Under such conditions, it is difficult to guarantee a free, fair and credible election," Chebukati said. "We cannot move forward with a divided commission."

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga arrives for a political rally in Nairobi, Kenya, October 18, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Election staff attending training sessions in some opposition strongholds were attacked this week, police said.

A senior Western diplomat in Nairobi condemned the attacks, saying of Odinga: "There is growing frustration among Western diplomats that a man who stood for democracy... is essentially in charge of a movement trying to sabotage an election."

"There is thuggery going on... People who incite violence will be held accountable," the diplomat told Reuters.

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Source(s): Reuters