by Bedah Mengo
NAIROBI, Oct. 18 (Xinhua) -- The attention shifts to Kenya's electoral body after a vocal commissioner resigned Wednesday, eight days to scheduled repeat polls, citing tough working conditions.
Roselyn Akombe, who was the face of the electoral commission to the public, quit and fled to the United States noting that she cannot be party to a partisan and flawed election on Oct. 26.
"We need the commission to be courageous and speak out, that this election as planned cannot meet the basic expectations of a credible election. Not when the staff are getting last minute instructions on changes in technology and electronic transmission of results," read her statement sent from New York where she fled for fear of her life.
Akombe did all media interviews for the electoral commission before the bungled Aug. 8 polls and defended the position of the commission.
Some Kenyans have received her resignation with joy while others with disappointment as it opens the lid on the infighting at the polls' body and lends credence to opposition demand for electoral reforms.
Those disappointed by her resignation are President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee Party supporters while those in joy are followers of Raila Odinga, leader of opposition National Super Alliance (NASA).
"Akombe has done Kenyans proud by exposing fraudulent schemes of the Jubilee," said lawyer Nelson Havi, an Odinga supporter. "She should be acknowledged as a hero on Mashujaa (Heroes) Day on Friday."
Havi said that Akombe has revealed the underhand dealings of the electoral commission as a partisan body working for the ruling Jubilee party.
A NASA lawmaker, lawyer Otiendo Amollo, said Akombe has courage and knew that it is more patriotic to quit than continue with a charade.
However, Mutahi Ngunyi, a political analyst aligned to the Jubilee party, described the resignation as a continuation of a "coup" started by the Supreme Court after it annulled Kenyatta's re-election at the Aug. 8 polls.
"Akombe is part of the Maraga coup," he said, referring to Supreme Court chief justice David Maraga. "It is happening in slow motion in our very own eyes."
Jubilee Senator Kipchumba Murkomen called Akombe a traitor, noting that as an American citizen, she resigned and fled because she has an alternative home.
"For us our home is Kenya and we shall do everything to protect its democracy and rule of law by holding elections as scheduled," Murkomen said.
Just like their leaders, ordinary Kenyans on the streets were equally divided on the resignation, with those supporting NASA backing Akombe while Jubilee followers castigated her.
"Only one person has resigned from the commission, not everyone or the chairman," said Kingu Mwangi, a clothes trader in Nairobi. "With or without Roselyn Akombe, elections will still go on. I am ready to vote on Oct. 26."
Jimmy Kingori, a public service vehicle conductor, blamed Akombe's resignation on NASA, accusing them of repeatedly saying that there would be no repeat poll.
"They should have told us how we were going to stop polls on Oct. 26 instead of scaring off commissioners like Akombe," he said.
Philip Nyalembo, a teacher, on the other hand, said Akombe has made the country proud by resigning.
"She has made Kenya proud and showed that professionals should not participate in what they do not believe in," he said.
On social media where Akombe's name trended for the better part of Wednesday morning, some Kenyans, however, felt Akombe's resignation was not enough.
"Akombe has just two more things to tell Kenyans. First, anything she knows about the killing of the former electoral commission IT manager Chris Msando and what really happened in the bungled Aug. 8 polls," said Japhet.
John Githongo, a human rights activist and an anti-corruption crusader, described Akombe as a strong Kenyan woman of integrity for standing for truth and justice at a personal cost.
Analysts noted that her resignation has left an egg on the credibility of the electoral commission as an independent institution expected to conduct free and fair polls.
"The resignation deepens the crisis at the electoral commission," said Henry Wandera, an economics lecturer in Nairobi.
"It lends credence to opposition assertions that the commission is under siege and cannot hold free and fair polls," Wandera said.
"The best thing to do would have been to postpone the elections to give the agency time to regroup and work on its image," he said.
"But sadly this many not happen."
