Amnesty International has expressed fear over the safety of individuals and violation of the rights of the people over Kenya’s election.
The organisation said its fears were based on the statements by some government officials in the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the group said it was necessary for government to take some steps to ensure the safety of all.
The statement reads in part: “Statements by some government officials have been a cause for concern. Information Communication and Technology Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru has threatened to revoke media houses’ licenses if they broadcast live the results announced by the electoral commission.
“The government must take concrete measures to calm this tense situation and to reassure voters that their safety is a priority.
“This means launching an independent and effective investigation into Chris Msando’s murder and holding those responsible to account.
“The authorities must also desist from remarks that threaten journalists and civil society organisations.
“Media houses must be able to broadcast results as soon as they are announced by electoral officers at polling station and constituency tallying centres, and to keep their own running tally of nationwide results.”
Read also: Kenya: Amnesty International calls for probe of murdered electoral officer
Amnesty International had earlier condemned the murder of Chris Msando, head of information technology at Kenya’s independent election monitoring body.
Its Kenya researcher, Abdullahi Halakhe, gave the position of the organisation in a statement.
It said that the murder, just a week before hotly contested elections, should sound alarm bells for the Kenyan government and highlight the need for them to up their game in terms of ensuring the safety of key officials at this tense time.
Msando, the man in charge of Kenya’s computerised voting system was murdered days before the country’s presidential election slated for August 8.
He had earlier on Friday been declared missing, but was later found to be dead.
According to reports, his body was found with that of a woman who could not be identified, on the outskirt of Nairobi.
He is believed to have been tortured to death.
There is anxiety in Kenya generally over the country’s presidential election which is believed to be a close contest between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga, a prominent politician and long time opponent of the president.
