By Diana Rose Wairumbi
The government of Kenya on Thursday agreed to restore Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati’s drivers and security, two days after they were withdrawn.
Security details for Chebukati, and Commissioners Boyu Molu and Abdi Guliye were withdrawn on Tuesday, one day after commissioners Paul Kurgat, Margaret Mwachanya and Consolata Nkatha resigned from the beleaguered electoral agency.
“There are all indications that the security that was withdrawn is being reinstated to the chairman, and affected commissioners,” Andrew Limo, IEBC communication manager wrote in a text message.
Limo did not expound on the matter further, but with the assurance from the top police officer, chances are high that the officers would report to work Thursday evening, or early Friday morning.
“The withdrawal of the security is likely to expose the chairman and commissioners Guliye and Molu to security risk. The action undermines their effectiveness in executing the work of the commission,” Limo had stated after the withdrawal of Chebukati’s security.
The obligation for provision of security, over which Limo said they had communicated to the Inspector-General, should be throughout the commissioner’s tenure, and “ceases only when the contract expires.”
Chebukati has at least eight bodyguards, this number was increased after the murder of IEBC ICT official Chris Msando just days before the General Election last year.
The IEBC chairman has three vehicles all driven by armed drivers: an official vehicle, a lead car, and a police chase car.
The IEBC commissioners are also entitled to government protection.
