Former Electoral Agency Commissioner Irene Masit flees the Kenya after receiving deaths threats
Masit, who is one of the Former Independent, Electoral and Boundaries Commissioners who contested William Ruto’s election as the President in August, 2022, left the country on Tuesday 27th June.
Masit, is reported to have fled through the Ethiopian Border to USA to seek asylum.
The threats against Masit began after she was fired from IEBC by tribunal
The tribunal determined that she had engaged in gross misconduct allegedly meeting with the former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s closest associates, during which they requested her favour to tamper with the presidential results
She objected the claims insisting that she has been a target of death threats from those who blame her for Ruto’s victory
“I have been receiving unending and chilling death threats,” Masit said in a statement. “I am afraid for my life and the lives of my family.”
Masit’s lawyer, Donald Kipkorir, said that she has reported the threats to the police, but that no action has been taken.
However, Masit’s destination state among the 52 States in United States of America is unknown but she may follow many Kenyans who have sought asylum in large USA
“We have reported the threats to the police, but they have not taken any action,” Kipkorir said. “We are now considering taking legal action against the people who are threatening her.”
She is the second high-profile IEBC official to flee the country in less than six years. In 2017, Roselyn Akombe also fled the country after receiving death threats.
Akombe’s case is similar to Masit’s in that she was also fired from the IEBC by a tribunal and then received death threats.
Akombe has since said that she believes that the threats against her were politically motivated.
The threats against Masit and Akombe are a reminder of the dangers that IEBC officials face when they challenge the results of an election especially presidential ones.