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.
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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.
