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| Kenya election official Roselyn Akombe flees to US | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A senior member of Kenya's electoral commission (IEBC) has resigned, saying the country is unable to hold credible elections next week. | A senior member of Kenya's electoral commission (IEBC) has resigned, saying the country is unable to hold credible elections next week. |
| Roselyn Akombe said the IEBC was under political "siege", unable to reach consensus or take any decisions. | Roselyn Akombe said the IEBC was under political "siege", unable to reach consensus or take any decisions. |
| Now in the US, she told the BBC she had feared for her safety while in Kenya after receiving numerous threats. | Now in the US, she told the BBC she had feared for her safety while in Kenya after receiving numerous threats. |
| Last week, opposition leader Raila Odinga pulled out of the 26 October presidential run-off. | Last week, opposition leader Raila Odinga pulled out of the 26 October presidential run-off. |
| The Supreme Court annulled the result of the original 8 August poll, which saw current President Uhuru Kenyatta declared winner, after finding irregularities and illegalities. | |
| In a statement, Ms Akombe said she had "agonised over the decision to leave the IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission). | In a statement, Ms Akombe said she had "agonised over the decision to leave the IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission). |
| "My decision to leave the IEBC will disappoint some of you, but it is not for lack of trying. | "My decision to leave the IEBC will disappoint some of you, but it is not for lack of trying. |
| "I have tried the best I could do given the circumstances. Sometimes, you walk away, especially when potentially lives are at stake. The commission has become a party to the current crisis. The commission is under siege. | "I have tried the best I could do given the circumstances. Sometimes, you walk away, especially when potentially lives are at stake. The commission has become a party to the current crisis. The commission is under siege. |
| "The commission in its current state can surely not guarantee a credible election on 26 October 2017." | "The commission in its current state can surely not guarantee a credible election on 26 October 2017." |
| And in an interview with the BBC's Newsday programme, she said: "Would it be a credible election? Absolutely not. | And in an interview with the BBC's Newsday programme, she said: "Would it be a credible election? Absolutely not. |
| "There is a very high likelihood that the mistakes that some of the presiding officers made during the last election will be repeated." | "There is a very high likelihood that the mistakes that some of the presiding officers made during the last election will be repeated." |
| Speaking from New York, she said IEBC members had been voting along partisan lines, without discussing different issues on merit. | Speaking from New York, she said IEBC members had been voting along partisan lines, without discussing different issues on merit. |
| Commissioners and other IEBC personnel were facing intimidation by political actors and protesters, Ms Akombe said. | Commissioners and other IEBC personnel were facing intimidation by political actors and protesters, Ms Akombe said. |
| She also revealed that she herself had received a number of anonymous threats, and had been put under pressure to resign. | She also revealed that she herself had received a number of anonymous threats, and had been put under pressure to resign. |
| "I have never felt the kind of fear that I felt in my own country." | "I have never felt the kind of fear that I felt in my own country." |
| She said she did not "feel safe enough to be able to go home" in the foreseeable future. | She said she did not "feel safe enough to be able to go home" in the foreseeable future. |
| The IEBC has so far made no public comments on the issue. | The IEBC has so far made no public comments on the issue. |
| Election positions | Election positions |
| Mr Odinga, who leads the opposition - the National Super Alliance (Nasa) - said last week: "We have come to the conclusion that there is no intention on the part of the IEBC to undertake any changes to its operations and personnel. | Mr Odinga, who leads the opposition - the National Super Alliance (Nasa) - said last week: "We have come to the conclusion that there is no intention on the part of the IEBC to undertake any changes to its operations and personnel. |
| "All indications are that the election scheduled for 26 October will be worse than the previous one." | "All indications are that the election scheduled for 26 October will be worse than the previous one." |
| Mr Odinga has organised a series of protests against the IEBC in recent weeks. | Mr Odinga has organised a series of protests against the IEBC in recent weeks. |
| Meanwhile, Mr Kenyatta says he is ready to proceed with the new vote as planned. | Meanwhile, Mr Kenyatta says he is ready to proceed with the new vote as planned. |
| "We have no problem going back to elections. We are sure we will get more votes than the last time." | "We have no problem going back to elections. We are sure we will get more votes than the last time." |
| "We are also telling him it is the people's right to choose their leader. It is their sovereign right to choose their leader of choice," Mr Kenyatta said. | "We are also telling him it is the people's right to choose their leader. It is their sovereign right to choose their leader of choice," Mr Kenyatta said. |
| The country's electoral commission said Mr Kenyatta had won the August vote by a margin of 1.4 million votes - or 54% of the total, compared to Mr Odinga's 45%. | The country's electoral commission said Mr Kenyatta had won the August vote by a margin of 1.4 million votes - or 54% of the total, compared to Mr Odinga's 45%. |