The AU Commission has condemned the killing of IEBC's Chris Msando and asked Kenyan authorities to ensure the perpetrators are punished.
Msando, who was IEBC acting ICT director, went missing and was found dead in Kiambu alongside KMCT student Caroline Ngumbu.
African Union Commission chairperson Moussa Faki termed the murder a shocking, dastardly and senseless act and condemned it "in the strongest terms".
“I extend my most sincere condolences to the family of the deceased as well as the management and staff of the IEBC on the loss of their loved one and colleague,” Faki said in a statement to the press on Wednesday.
He led election observers in a meeting with IEBC officials on July 19.
The chairman emphasised that the clarity of the election process will end suspicion.
Faki further reaffirmed the African Union's support for the sake of democratic, credible and peaceful elections.
He noted this kind of election would be "in line with the continent’s shared values, as articulated in the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and other relevant instruments of the AU".
KENYANS DESERVE FAIR ELECTION
The AUC boss also asked political parties, candidates and their supporters to desist from all acts of violence and intimidation that may derail a peaceful election.
"Kenyans deserve free, fair and credible elections," he noted, adding the IEBC and the government must cooperate and "take immediate necessary measures" for the probe.
He asked Kenyan authorities to make sure the acting director's death does not affect the election negatively.
The ICT manager had given Central police station officers reports of death threats but police spokesperson Charles Owino said he did not follow up.
Owino added Msando neither reported the threats to the Nairobi DCIO nor asked the government to provide adequate protection for all electoral stakeholders.
IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati's security was beefed up with six more officers and two chase cars after Msando's murder.
On Tuesday, President Uhuru Kenyatta ordered the provision of security for all IEBC officials, presidential candidates and their running mates.
Msando was one of the few people with knowledge on the whereabouts of the servers at the IEBC.
Commissioner Margaret Wamalwa earlier assured that he did not have KIEMS passwords and that the system is safe for the election on August 8.
Wamalwa's colleague Roselyne Akembo told Citizen TV that ICT director James Muhatia and the team he left behind will proceed with the preparations.
Jubilee President Uhuru Kenyatta, NASA's Raila Odinga and six other presidential candidates will battle it out for the top seat in five days.
Kenyans will also elect governors, senators, MPs and MCAs to represent them for the next five years.
The AU, EU, National Democratic Institute and COMESA are among organisations that have sent observers.
Additional reporting by SAMUEL KISIKA @KisikaSam and GILBERT KOECH@KoechJunior_1
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