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Missing Kenya Election Official Found Dead Before Vote

A senior Kenyan election official was found dead on Monday three days after going missing, a colleague said, stirring fears of turmoil before the Aug. 8 national vote.

Chris Musando was the head of information, communication and technology for the electoral board, said the colleague, who asked not to be named.

“There’s no doubt that he was tortured and murdered,” Wafula Chebukati, the chair of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, told journalists outside the City Mortuary.

“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.”

Police were not immediately available for comment.

“This is someone who was involved in a critical component of the elections, the electronic infrastructure.

“This will definitely raise suspicious and undermine public confidence in the outcome,” said Rashid Abdi, regional analyst at International Crisis Group.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, seeking a second and final five-year term, is running against veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Odinga says that fraud robbed him of victory in the last two elections. In 2013, electronic voting machines suffered widespread malfunctions, but Odinga took his complaints to court, which dismissed them.

In 2007, he called for street protests after tallying was abruptly stopped and a winner announced. Political protests and ethnic violence killed more than 1,200 people.

The announcement of Msando’s death came days after an attacker killed a policeman outside the vice president’s country home.

Kenyans will choose their next president, lawmakers and local representatives on Aug. 8.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, seeking a second and final five-year term, is running against veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Odinga says that fraud robbed him of victory in the last two elections.

In 2013, electronic voting machines suffered widespread malfunctions, but Odinga took his complaints to court, which dismissed them.

In 2007, he called for street protests after tallying was abruptly stopped and a winner announced.

Political protests and ethnic violence killed more than 1,200 people.

Gunmen attacked Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto’s residence in the western town of Eldoret on Saturday when Ruto and his family were absent.

A police officer guarding the residence was wounded, KTN News reported. NTV News said gunshots could still be heard from the scene.

NTV News also showed footage of heavily armed officers at the scene responding to the attack.

Police and officials from Ruto’s office were not available for immediate comment.

Ruto’s is President Uhuru Kenyatta’s running mate. Kenyatta is seeking a second and final term in office.

The motive of the attack was unclear.

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