IEBC Commissioner Roselyn Akombe Refutes Claims of Going to Bed with Politicians

IEBC commissioner Roselyne Akombe has rubbished claims that she has been "going to bed with politicians" when she is supposed to remain non-partisan.

Akombe became the most visible face in the commission in the run to August 8th election, addressing a majority of press briefings to show how prepared the commission was.

However, in the wake of alleged divisions at the Commission, the vocal Akombe has maintained a low profile.

Before joining IEBC last year, Akombe was based in the US where she worked as a senior advisor to the Under-Secretary General (Political Affairs) at the United Nations secretariat in New York.

Akombe has recently been on the spot where she faced accusations of being a National Super Alliance (NASA) mole and secretly meeting its flagbearer Raila Odinga. The commissioner has, however, defended herself and dismissed the claims as false. “I have never met any politician over election issues after the Supreme Court ruling. Near to the truth is my meeting with Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju.” She said in an interview with the Standard.

She termed as propaganda screen shots of WhatsApp chats doing rounds on social media between her and Siaya Senator James Orengo. “I have never met the NASA leadership. I have met Tuju. Why is no one talking about my meeting with him? It’s a meeting I can publicly confirm because as far I am concerned, it was in the interest of the electoral process,” said Akombe.

She has also rubbished rumors that she was planning tender a resignation letter to the commission and assured that she was focused to helping the commission deliver the repeat election ordered by the Supreme Court. “I am not planning to tender my resignation. Now my focus is purely on a credible electoral process that will vindicate us,” she said.

Akombe has maintained a low profile since the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport incident where she was temporarily detained after being pulled out of a US-bound flight. “When I signed up for this job, I knew what I was getting myself into. In the course of discharging my duties, I am cognizant of the fact that many will try to rattle me, but I have to do the right thing,” she said.