Court awards Sh8 million compensation to the slain IEBC Returning Officer

Mr. Waithanji Mwaniki, a returning officer for Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), died mysteriously outside a polling station in Kangema Murang'a county during the 2013 general elections.

This led to his [Mwaniki's] family moving to court in search of compensation over their kin's demise. In April 2018, Murang'a magistrate court directed that the deceased's family be compensated.

Almost two years later, Justice Kanyi Kimondo has now directed the Chief Executive Officer for IEBC Mr. Marjan Hussein and the Interior Ministry PS Karanja Kibicho, to ensure compliance and see that Sh8 million is given to Mwaniki's family.

The court learned how a police officer shot the late Mwaniki on March 4, 2013, while ferrying ballot boxes to Kangema tallying station from Kiruri polling centre.

The killer officer reportedly sat at the van's rear seat, while Mwaniki drove it. He [police officer] then opened fire from behind shooting Mwaniki on the head, leading to his demise a few hours after.

The principal amount awarded will be equally shared between John Mwitumi and Benedditte Njeri, who are reportedly the representatives for the deceased.

The compensation comes after the relatives wrote twice to the attorney general, on behalf of Interior Ministry.

The family reportedly even wanted both Interior PS and IEBC CEO jailed for having defied court orders in the past, but the justice dismissed their wish owing to technicalities.