A shocking revelation has resurfaced about the intense pressure faced by former Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) chairman Samuel Kivuitu during the disputed 2007 presidential election.
Kivuitu admitted that he was forced to take the presidential election winner’s certificate to State House under duress.“I took the presidential election winner’s certificate to State House, Nairobi, after some people threatened to collect it themselves, yet I am the one mandated by law to do so. When I arrived, I found the Chief Justice already there, ready to swear him in,” Kivuitu revealed.
The 2007 election remains one of Kenya’s most controversial, triggering widespread violence that left over 1,000 people dead and thousands displaced.Photo: courtesy of Nation
Kivuitu’s handling of the results, coupled with his admission that he did not know whether Mwai Kibaki had truly won, cast a shadow over the electoral process.
His tenure as electoral boss contrasts sharply with that of his successor, Wafula Chebukati, who presided over the 2017 and 2022 elections.
While Chebukati remained tight-lipped during political tensions, Kivuitu’s candid remarks often fuelled uncertainty.
Political analysts argue that Kenya’s election referees often find themselves in impossible situations, facing pressure from both political camps.
“You cannot be an electoral referee in an election featuring the likes of Kibaki, Ruto, Uhuru, and Raila and expect it to be easy,” said political analyst Charles Mwangi.
Kivuitu’s revelation continues to spark debate on the integrity of Kenya’s electoral process and the immense pressure faced by electoral officials in politically charged environments.
By Nairobi