Kirinyaga IEBC official, Mr. Geoffrey Gitobu, whose death shocked the entire country might have had premonitions about his death while working with the electoral body, as his colleagues now reveal.
Gitobu’s colleagues reveal that he had termed the 2022 general election as his last assignment with the electoral body.
According to his colleagues, who eulogized Gitobu during his burial ceremony, the cryptic message had little meaning when said at the time while at the Bomas of Kenya.
“Other returning officers who worked closely with Gitobu have disclosed he stated that this was the last election he would oversee. At the time the meaning of ‘last’ was unknown,” Rose Obari, Kasapun Returning Officer said.
Mr. Gitobu at work
In addition, Obari noted as the returning officers ferried ballot boxes to the Bomas of Kenya, Gitobu was cheerful and interacted with other officials at the venue.
A heartbroken Obari added that as electoral officials, they face a range of challenges during the electioneering period that often require divine intervention.
“After we have delivered seats to the winners and they go to celebrate their victory as we go remember the lives of our colleagues who have left us,” she sadly added.
The death of Geoffrey Gitobu came as a shock to his family who had earlier insisted their kin did not have prior medical complications.
Overcome by emotions, the late Gitobu’s wife could not eulogize her husband. In a letter read by a close relative, she expressed her initial denial that Gitobu died due to natural causes.
“When I heard of your demise, I was in doubt because you did not have any pre-existing condition but the postmortem results cleared my doubts,” read the letter in parts.
Another returning officer from Meru, William Ndung’u reiterated that IEBC officials are mandated to ensure credible elections in the country.
He also pointed out that IEBC officials have lives outside the job and families to cater for and therefore should be honored.
Some elected leaders in the area attended the funeral to pay their last respect to the 58-year-old IEBC official.
Kirinyaga MP Njeri Maina urged the family to be strong while area Senator Kamau Murango echoed Njeri’s words at the funeral.
The 58-year-old who collapsed abruptly was pronounced dead upon arrival at the Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital on Monday, August 22.
After a postmortem, it was revealed that Gitobu succumbed to a blood clot in the artery. The report dismissed prior speculations that he was murdered.
His death was reported days after Embakasi East Returning Officer, Daniel Musyoka was found murdered in Kajiado county.
Additional Reports on the Mysterious Death of Kirinyanga IEBC Official.
Laikipia county DCI boss Onesmus Towett has dispelled rumors of the possible killing of Kirinyaga IEBC official Geoffrey Gitobu whose death has shocked the entire country.
Speaking during the press, Mr Towett said stated that the case was reported by the deceased’s brother yesterday, Monday, at around 2:38 pm in the afternoon that Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had collapsed and was later confirmed dead upon arrival at a Nanyuki hospital.
“We have received the report that the IEBC officer has been murdered/killed in Nanyuki, that is not the position. The case was reported at around 2.38pm in the afternoon that an officer had collapsed and when he was rushed to hospital, he was confirmed to be dead. So no person has killed another one” Onesmus Towett said.
Laikipia DCI officer Onesmus Towett
Towett says Geoffrey Gitobu died a sudden death and an inquiry has been launched into the matter.
The officer is said to have taken a short break from his family in Nanyuki when he visited the Nanyuki IEBC offices where he collapsed and was rushed to Cottage hospital where he died.
The postmortem exercise is slated for tomorrow at 9am.
Towett has warned politicians from spreading rumors and wait for the police investigation to be done.
Earlier on, reports were rife that while driving within Nanyuki town, Mr Gitobu felt dizzy and collapsed.
“The report indicated that Gitobu was driving within Nanyuki town when he felt dizzy and was rushed to a private hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival,” reported Nation.
Mysterious Death of Embakasi East IEBC Returning Officer Daniel Mbolu Musyoka
This Kirinyaga IEBC Officer’s death came barely two weeks after IEBC returning officer, Daniel Mbolu Musyoka, attached to Embakasi East Constituency in the just concluded general election was murdered mysteriously and the body dumped in Amboseli, Loitoktok, Kajiado county.
The mutilated lifeless body of Mr. Musyoka was spotted by herders who rushed to report the matter to Loitoktok police station.
Musyoka’s body was taken to Loitoktok sub-county mortuary where his sister identified the deceased.
