Controversial Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has sparked a storm over an online slur against a slain electoral agency officer.
Immediately news of the death of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Director of ICT Chris Msando broke on Monday, focus sharply shifted to a Facebook post that suggested that the officer, who had been missing since Friday night, had been with a female companion in Nairobi's Roysambu estate.
Angry Kenyans took to social media demanding that the legislator be investigated.
Mr Kuria reportedly posted a picture of himself pointing at a vehicle – a grey Land Rover Discovery – believed to be that of Mr Msando, which was found parked in Roysambu, Nairobi.
The picture has since been pulled down.
Similar postings were also made by a blogger associated with the Government.
Reached for comment before Msando was confirmed dead, Kuria explained that a friend alerted him that the poll official's vehicle had been spotted parked at an apartment near Thika Road Mall.
Kuria claimed Msando was a frequent visitor to the apartment but hung up when probed further.
Earlier yesterday, a graphic linking Msando with the National Super Alliance (NASA) leadership was widely shared on social media.
In the graphic titled The Jimi Wanjigi Connection to Msando, the author(s) tried to link Msando to NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga, Kisumu governorship candidate Anyang' Nyong'o and Kisumu Woman Representative candidate Rosa Buyu, who it said was related to Msando's wife.
Suspicious activity
It claimed Msando had been questioned over suspicious activity on the IEBC server.
"Msando will reappear some day before or after voting and claim that his life is in danger and he had to go into hiding to protect the integrity of the elections. He will say 'my conscience could not allow me to see what I am seeing and keep quiet' Remember Kepkemboi Kirui in 2007 Elections?" poses the message in the graphics.
