The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of Kenya has issued a statement saying that the abuse directed at its staff during the presidential elections on August 9 “reached an unimaginable scale.”
The allegations included “assault and injury” to commission chairman Wafula Chebukati and others, as well as the “unwarranted arrest” of a voter education coordinator.
The allegations also included “abduction” and “torturing,” “harassment and physical assault,” and an alleged break-in to the offices of a senior staff member at the National Tallying Centre “with the intent of accessing sensitive data.”
The statement also stated that some IEBC employees had “lost their lives,” referring to Geoffrey Gitobu, a returning officer for the Gichugu Constituency who “died in what could have been election-related stress.”
An autopsy of Mr Gitobu showed that he died of a blood clot.
Kenya’s election has been marred by allegations of intimidation, threats and blackmail.