Kenya vote chief says ‘difficult’ to have credible election

By TOM ODULA* [caption id="attachment_41132" align="alignleft" width="300"] Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga, left, dances after arriving at a rally attended by thousands of supporters in the Shauri Moyo area of Nairobi, Kenya Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2017. The head of the election commission said Wednesday that it is "difficult to guarantee a free, fair and credible election" in Kenya's fresh presidential vote only eight days away, just hours after a top Kenyan electoral official resigned saying the election on Oct. 26 cannot be credible as planned. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)[/caption]

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — It is "difficult to guarantee a free, fair and credible election" in Kenya's fresh presidential vote just eight days away despite "full technical preparedness," the head of the election commission said Wednesday as another wave of uncertainty swept through East Africa's largest economy.

Wafula Chebukati spoke hours after a top Kenyan electoral official resigned and fled to the United States, saying the election on Oct. 26 cannot be free and fair.

"Not when the staff are getting last-minute instructions on changes in technology and electronic transmission of results. Not when in parts of the country, the training of presiding officers is being rushed for fear of attacks from protesters," said Roselyn Akombe, who had been a commissioner on the electoral board.

Speaking to The Associated Press from New York, Akombe said she fled out of fear for her life.

Kenya's deputy president, William Ruto, told supporters that the election will continue "even with resignations."

The Supreme Court last month nullified the August election in which President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner, citing irregularities, and ordered a fresh one.

Kenyans woke up to the latest news in shock. Many opposition supporters backed Akombe's decision in their comments on social media, while ruling party supporters accused her of attempting to sabotage elections.

Protesters in the opposition stronghold of Kisumu city in western Kenya threw chairs and destroyed tents where an election training camp was being set up for officials.

"There is no way we are going for an election where the referee is partisan," said Kisumu's deputy governor, Mathews Ochieng Owili.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga, whose legal challenge of vote-rigging led to the ruling, last week withdrew from the new election because electoral reforms had not been made. Among them, he wants some election commission staffers to be replaced.

Chebukati said he had tried to make critical decisions to reform the election commission but each time was overruled by the majority of commissioners.

"Under such conditions it's difficult to guarantee free, fair and credible elections," he said. "Without critical changes in key secretariat staff, free, fair and credible elections will surely be compromised. I therefore call on the staff adversely mentioned to step aside."

Chebukati also praised Akombe's work, saying she was driven by nothing else "other than the love of her country and wanting to see democracy thrive in Kenya."

Odinga on Tuesday suspended opposition protests intended to press for reforms, citing the killings of his supporters by police. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch this week said 67 opposition supporters have been killed in protests since the results of August's election were announced.