How Akombe fled during official trip to Dubai

IEBC commissioner Roselyn Akombe’s decision to flee the country was a closely guarded secret and she took her chance while on an official trip outside the country.

She left Jomo Kenyatta International Airport for Dubai on Monday night at around 10.45 pm and was supposed to monitor the printing of ballot papers at Dubai-based firm Al Ghurair.

She touched down in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai on Tuesday, 5 am Kenyan time and was supposed to join other IEBC commissioners at the printing firm.

However, that never happened as she detoured and boarded another flight destined for New York from where she sent out a statement announcing her resignation. She said she had to send out her resignation and reasons after landing in America for her own safety.

Speaking to BBC Newsday interview from New York, Ms Akombe recalled the murder of the election commission’s IT head, Chris Msando, before the August poll.

“You’ll be suicidal to think that nothing will happen to you,” she said. “I have never felt the kind of fear that I felt in my own country.”

Speaking to the BBC from New York, Dr Akombe described IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati as “ a very well-meaning person. He has a temperament to be able to be a leader, but he is a leader under a siege.”

“Well, if he was much more firm, I think probably we would have gone much far. There are aspects of his character that are helpful in a situation like we are in. But there are times he just needs firmness to be able to move on,” said Dr Akombe.

In the statement on her resignation she said the commission was deeply divided, so much so that making key decisions had proven difficult, urging her colleagues to be frank and tell Kenyans that it would be difficult to have a free, fair, and credible election on October 26.

She said she fled the country to ensure her safety and security amid the ongoing political turmoil in Kenya.