Kenya's national police force says it is investigating the killing of a top election official. Christopher Msando was found dead Monday, a little more than a week before the country holds general elections. The inspector general of the National Police Service, Joseph Boinnet, said in a statement that Msando's body had been discovered earlier but was identified Monday. Boinnet said police are following important clues to the crime. The two-page statement does not explain the cause of death. Msando was manager of technology operations for Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, or the IEBC. He is said to have had knowledge of the technology being used for the August 8 elections. Wafula Chebukati is the chairman of the IEBC. He said Monday there is no doubt Msando was "tortured and killed." However, he said it is unclear why he was killed. Chebukati asked the government to provide security for all IEBC workers so that Kenyans can have a free and fair election. The statement from inspector general Boinnet said police will work with the IEBC to provide all employees security so they can carry out their duties. In a statement Monday, U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec and British High Commissioner to Kenya Nic Hailey said their countries are "gravely concerned by the murder." They said both countries have offered to help with the investigation. The diplomats said, "It is critical that Kenya has free, fair, credible and peaceful elections on August 8, and protection for IEBC staff is essential to achieving this goal." Fears of violence have increased as the election nears. Opposition parties have accused President Uhuru Kenyatta of seeking to cheat during the vote. At the same time, Kenyatta has said his main opponent, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, is trying to divide the nation’s ethnic groups. Odinga lost a disputed presidential election in 2007. More than 1,100 people died during violence that followed the vote. Barasa Nyukuri is a Kenyan law and elections expert. He told VOA's Swahili Service that the killing may be an attempt to frighten the IEBC. He also warned that Msando's death "could damage voters' confidence on the commission unless the IEBC leadership comes out strongly to reassure the people." I’m Jonathan Evans. Jill Craig reported this story for VOA News. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story gravely - adv. very serious; requiring or causing serious thought or concern critical –adj. very important essential –adj. very important achieve –v. to get or to reach by effort confidence –n. a feeling that something can be done reassure - v. to make someone feel less afraid, upset, or doubtful
from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2u1mA3k
via IFTTT
الاشتراك في:
تعليقات الرسالة (Atom)
المشاركات الشائعة
-
As President of the United States, Donald Trump shakes a lot of hands. But look out. If you shake Trump’s hand, you might get pulled off y...
-
Even in the world of medicine, what is old is new again. Thousands of years ago, Egyptians used it to sterilize drinking water. Ancient Roma...
-
00:00:02 OPRAH WINFREY: "Hattie Mae, this child is gifted," and I heard that enough that I started to believe it. 00:00:08 ...
-
Zimbabwe wants small business to be able to get credit to start or grow a business. If the country’s Parliament approves a bill proposed l...
-
Olayemi Samson is a Nigerian entrepreneur. He is turning plastic waste into useful things like clothing, school bags, car covers and shoes...
-
from Voice of America https://ift.tt/2JX5szY via IFTTT
-
Learn from your hosts, Anne and Jonathan the meaning of momentous. from Voice of America http://ift.tt/2a2yXS4 via IFTTT
-
An unpublished United Nations report says that North Korea sent materials that could be used in chemical weapons to Syria and missile techno...
-
South Korea’s government proposed on Monday to hold military talks with North Korea to reduce tensions between the two countries. The South ...
-
Tensions between North and South Korea have increased sharply since the North’s announcement that it tested a nuclear weapon for the fourt...
ليست هناك تعليقات:
إرسال تعليق