Photo: Maina Kiai via Flickr

More than a week before Kenya’s General Election, Chris Msando,  the head of information, communication and technology at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), was found dead on Saturday along with a corpse of a yet unidentified woman.

Msando was part of the main body that will be in charge of checking the polls in the upcoming east African elections for a new president, along with lawmakers and local representatives.He had also contributed towards the development of electronic ballot and voter registration systems at the IEBC.

“There’s no doubt that he was tortured and murdered,” said Wafula Chebukati, the chair of the IEBC.In line with the suspicious death threats Msando received before his death, its possibility cannot be easily dismissed.

“The only issue is who killed him and why … I demand from the government that they provide security for all members of the IEBC for them to give Kenya free and fair elections,” Chebukati added.

Msando’s death can possibly undermine the position of the electoral candidates.A death of an electoral official nine days before the election will undoubtedly raise suspicion to control the election.

The report concerning Msando’s death was released only 48 hours after the incident occurred.