Killing of Kenyan election official concerns Uganda's EC

Late Chris Msando. Photo/ Courtesy

The Electoral Commission (EC) chairman, Justice Simon Byabakama, has said they are concerned about the recent killing of a senior Kenyan election official.

Chris Msando, who was head of information technology for Kenya's integrated electoral management system, was found dead just days before the country goes to the polls.

His department was responsible for voter identification and result transmission technology for the August 8 elections.

"The last persons to be targeted should not or never be election officials because they are only carrying out a duty. They do not have any interest in either side. Theirs is to render a professional duty as required of them by the law. So we really regret that incident," Byabakama said.

He was speaking to journalists on the elections of women MPs, district chairmen and local government councillors for the five newly-created districts at the EC headquarters in Kampala on Wednesday.

"But of course having happened to a colleague in another electoral management body of a neighbouring country, we are also concerned and we are taking up the matter with the relevant authorities so that the security of the commission personnel is not put at risk," Byabakama added.  

He, however, asked Ugandans to also pray for them as they pray for themselves that they are not put in harm's way.

"We pray and hope that nothing of the sort ever happens in this country. It has not happened before and we hope it will not happen because we believe the people of Uganda are generally law abiding and we really want to pursue the development of our democratic processes in a civil and legal manner," the EC boss said.

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is looking to secure a second five-year term in this election.

He is facing longtime rival and Opposition leader Raila Odinga in an increasingly-close race.