Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group, Ex-President John Dramani Mahama says thorough and rigorous investigations into the murder of Kenyan election official, Chris Msando would be conducted.
Chris Msando's body was found severely tortured and strangled to death, an autopsy revealed.
He was in charge of Kenya's computerized voting system for next Tuesday's Presidential elections.
A BBC report noted that the deceased body was "discovered next to the corpse of a woman in a forest on the outskirts of Nairobi at the weekend".
According to a statement issued by Ex-President Mahama, the group won't relent on finding the murder suspects.
" . . on behalf of the Commonwealth Secretary-General and the Observer Group for the elections in Kenya, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family and the colleagues of Chris Msando of the IEBC. We would join with all those calling for a full, rigorous and thorough investigation to find out who is responsible and why this murder took place. At this stage I do not wish to go further. Our sympathies are with the family and friends of Mr Msando and our interest is in a peaceful and credible election process".
Read full statement below:
ARRIVAL STATEMENT BY CHAIR OF THE COMMONWEALTH OBSERVER GROUP 2017 KENYA GENERAL ELECTIONS
Statement by: Chair of the Commonwealth Observer Group, HE John Dramani Mahama, former President of Ghana.
Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming to this Commonwealth Observer Group Arrival Press Conference.
First of all, on behalf of the Commonwealth Secretary-General and the Observer Group for the elections in Kenya, I would like to express my sincere condolences to the family and the colleagues of Chris Msando of the IEBC. We would join with all those calling for a full, rigorous and thorough investigation to find out who is responsible and why this murder took place. At this stage I do not wish to go further.
Our sympathies are with the family and friends of Mr Msando and our interest is in a peaceful and credible election process.
I am greatly honoured to have been asked by Commonwealth Secretary-General Rt. Hon. Patricia Scotland QC, to lead the Commonwealth Observer Group to Kenya’s General Elections scheduled for 8 August 2017.
The 15 strong Group was constituted following an invitation from Kenya’s Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission. This follows the visit of a preelection assessment team to the country in March 2017.
The Group is made up of eminent persons drawn from across the different regions of the Commonwealth, including Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
They bring a wealth of experience from across the social and political spectrum including civil society, women’s and youth groups, human rights organisations and the media.
We are here to observe the electoral process and will act impartially and independently as we assess its organisation and conduct.
We will seek to assess the pre-election environment, polling day activities and the post-election period against the backdrop of Kenya’s national legislation and regulations as well as regional and international commitments.
We will then take a view whether it has been conducted to the international and regional standards to which Kenya has committed itself, including its own laws.
In this context, we look forward to the Presidential candidates reaffirming their commitment to peaceful elections.
Our planned briefings are wide ranging, encompassing election officials, political parties and local stakeholders; including citizen observers, women’s groups and youth.
So far we have met some parties and stakeholders.
We have also been briefed by our advance team of observers which has been on the ground since 19 July.
From Saturday 5 August our observers will be deployed to locations across the country.
They will be in small teams and will arrive to observe preparations ahead of polling day and meet with political parties, the police, election officials and other stakeholders in their respective locations.
On Election Day, they will observe the opening, voting, closing, counting and the results management processes.
We will issue an interim statement on our preliminary findings on 10 August 2017.
A final report will then be prepared and submitted to the Commonwealth Secretary-General, and subsequently shared with relevant stakeholders and the public.
The Group will depart Kenya on 14 August 2017.
We are aware of the significance of these elections to the people of Kenya, the region and the global community.
Our presence here affirms the support of the Commonwealth to Kenya and its democratic processes.
We make a commitment that our observation role will be undertaken with impartiality, independence and transparency.
We hope that our Group’s presence will confirm the solidarity of the Commonwealth with the people of Kenya.
As the campaign nears completion I would wish the people of Kenya, those seeking election, the poll officials and others who work to make the process democratic, well as the nation exercises its rights, and we join in the heart felt desire for a peaceful process on August 8th.
The full list of Commonwealth observers:
Chairperson:
His Excellency John Dramani Mahama
Former President of the Republic of Ghana
Members: (in alphabetical order of nationality)
Ms Natasha Stott Despoja
Former Ambassador, Senator and Party Leader
Australia
Professor Pierre Moukoko Mbonjo
Former Minister of External Relations
Cameroon
Mr Christopher Cobb
Journalist/Electoral Communication Specialist
Canada
Ms Pauline Welsh,
Director of Legal Affairs
Electoral Commission of Jamaica
Mrs Nana Asantewa Afadzinu
Executive Director, West Africa Civil Society Institute
Ghana
Professor Aishah Bidin
Law Professor and Human Rights Commissioner
Malaysia
Mr Solomon Akintola Oyateru
Ambassador (Retired)
Nigeria
Hon Gideon Kayinamura
Ambassador (Retired)
Rwanda
Ms Angelique Pouponneau
Vice-Chairperson for Inclusion and Engagement
Commonwealth Youth Council
Seychelles
Mr Glen Mashinini
Chairperson/Commissioner
Electoral Commission of South Africa
Ms Elizabeth Lwanga King
Development Advisor
Uganda
Hon Canon Justice James Ogoola
Chairman
The Elders Forum of Uganda
Baroness Sandip Verma
Parliamentarian
United Kingdom
Hon Justice Damian Zefren Lubuva
Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice and Justice at the Court of Appeal, and Chairman of the National Electoral Commission United Republic of Tanzania
Since 1980, the Commonwealth has observed more than 140 elections in 36 countries. The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 52 independent and equal sovereign states.
It is home to 2.2 billion citizens, of which over 60% are under the age of 30. The Commonwealth includes some of the world’s largest, smallest, richest and poorest countries, spanning five regions.
Thirty-one of its members are small states, many of them island nations. Commonwealth countries are supported by an active network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisations. For more on the work of the Commonwealth visit our website at www.thecommonwealth.org
Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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They accused him of killing Prof mills when in opposition, you guys are in power now investigate and jail him if you have evidence and stop disturbing us. Look at how confused you president is, think of how your government will fulfill it promise and leave JM alone. We love you JM. Their lies are hunting them big time.
Pls, he should not have another child with a Kenyan lady before returns. Bad man things!
@??? must we always politicize everything? Was President Mills not feeling well before his death? How do you ask who killed someone who is already sick? Find something better to say otherwise go and weewee and go to bed.
Good speech.... But John Mahama never told Ghanaians how Prof. Atta Mills died or who killed him. He refused to call for an investigation into his death... bcos he was the biggest beneficiary of his death. Hypocrisy?
Good job, JM. I think your service is much needed in areas like this than wanting to be the president of Ghana again.
Great speech from former President Mahama. We must be proud of him as a nation. We thank God for our current president Nana Akufo Addo. May God grant our leaders wisdom to lead us out of poverty and lawlessness, unemployment and other social vices. God bless our homeland Ghana and make our nation great and strong