Roselyn Akombe Resumes Her Job at the UN in New York, Barred from Speaking to Media

Two weeks after her controversial resignation from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), former electoral commission commissioner Dr Roselyn Akombe has reported back to her job at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

While confirming her return to UN job, Dr. Akombe, who announced her exit from the commission about a week to the October 26th repeat presidential election, however, said he had been barred from addressing the media.

“Yes, I’m back at my old job but I’m prohibited from talking to the press. This was contained in the new contract I signed recently,” she told the Nation‘s Chris Wamalwa.

Speaking to the Nation earlier, the ex-commissioner confessed there have been increased pressure on her bosses at the UN by Kenyan authorities both Kenya and in the US pushing for her sacking for allegedly “betraying” her country.

Before taking up the IEBC job, Akombe was working with the UN in New York City as a political advisor. She took a one year leave to serve the electoral commission in Kenya.

In her letter of resignation, Akombe said it had become impossible for IEBC to hold a credible repeat presidential election following the nullification of August 8th poll by the Supreme Court.

“The commissioners can’t agree on anything and if they did, chances are that the decisions made would be ignored by the secretariat. In the end, you end up going round and round without making any meaningful decisions.” She said.

She added that the commission had been captured by politicians, which crippled its operations.

“Decisions are made somewhere else and passed on for ratification and implementation. Commissioners and senior staff at the secretariat are put in line through bribery and threats. If you don’t agree with them then your life is in danger,” she said.