Kenya: Missing electoral body official found murdered

By Magdalene Mukami and Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) – A top official from Kenya’s electoral body who went missing on Friday has been found on Monday murdered with one of his arms cut off, police said Monday.

Wafula Chebukati, chairman of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had reported on Saturday that Chris Msando who worked as IEBC's acting director of information and communications technology, had gone missing since Friday.

A police officer, who spoke to Anadolu Agency at the Nairobi mortuary on condition of anonymity, confirmed that his body was found on Sunday. His death comes just over a week before Kenyans go to the polls to vote in a general election.

“He was brought in on Sunday but identified today by his family. He has injuries from blunt objects all over his body,” the officer told Anadolu Agency. "We have increased security for all key persons during this election period."

Family members of the ICT director could be seen leaving the mortuary weeping.

“We can’t call this a coincidence, this is something that seems to have been well planned and executed and bearing in mind that we have a narrative that some people were planning to steal elections, I think this is going to raise political temperatures in the country which is not very healthy for us.” George Musamali, a security analyst and CEO of Executive Protection Services in Nairobi told Anadolu Agency.

Kenyans are scheduled to vote in legislative and presidential elections on Aug. 8.