Kenya vote chief says 'difficult' to have credible election

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) - It is "difficult to guarantee a free, fair and credible election" in Kenya's fresh presidential vote just eight days away despite "full technical preparedness," the head of the election commission said Wednesday as another wave of uncertainty swept through East Africa's largest economy.

Wafula Chebukati spoke hours after a top Kenyan electoral official resigned, saying the election on Oct. 26 cannot be credible as planned.

Roselyn Akombe quit as a commissioner of Kenya's electoral board, issuing a statement from New York saying the new vote cannot be free and fair.

"Not when the staff are getting last-minute instructions on changes in technology and electronic transmission of results. Not when in parts of the country, the training of presiding officers is being rushed for fear of attacks from protesters," she said.

Kenyans woke up to the news in shock. Many opposition supporters backed Akombe's decision, while ruling party supporters accused her of attempting to sabotage elections.

Kenya's Supreme Court last month nullified the August election in which President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner, citing irregularities.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga, whose legal challenge of vote-rigging led to the ruling, last week withdrew from the new election because electoral reforms had not been made. Among them, he wants some election commission staffers to be replaced.

Chebukati said he had tried to make critical decisions to reform the election commission but each time was overruled by the majority of commissioners.

"Under such conditions it's difficult to guarantee free, fair and credible elections," he said. "Without critical changes in key secretariat staff, free, fair and credible elections will surely be compromised. I therefore call on the staff adversely mentioned to step aside."

Chebukati also praised Akombe's work, saying she was driven by nothing else "other than the love of her country and wanting to see democracy thrive in Kenya."

Odinga on Tuesday suspended opposition protests intended to press for reforms, citing the killings of his supporters by police. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch this week said 67 opposition supporters have been killed in protests since the results of August's election were announced.