IEBC commissioner Dr Roselyn Akombe was all over the news yesterday, Wednesday, August 16, following an incident at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) where she was kicked off an airplane on suspicion that she was fleeing to the US.
The vocal elections official has now broken her silence on the matter after trending on social media platforms as Kenyans speculated why she had been blocked from leaving the country.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) later tweeted about the incident saying the issue had been resolved and Akombe had already left the country.
“Dr Akombe who is traveling to US for an official meeting was delayed at JKIA by officials who have since apologized. She returns on Sunday.” The tweet read.
It later emerged that the commissioner was temporarily blocked from continuing with her journey because her travelling papers were not in place as required, and that she was using her ordinary passport instead of a diplomatic one as required of people in her position.
In the usual fashion, Kenyans on social media had a field day speculating, with many saying how Akombe was jetting out of the country due to the alleged election results scandal that led to the declaration of Uhuru Kenyatta as the winner of the presidential race.
But through an official statement, Akombe sought to clarify saying she was only going to the US on official duty, contrary to the rumours.
She said:
“While it is unfortunate that my departure was delayed, I at no time indicated that I am fleeing my beloved Kenya due to questions raised on the credibility of our electoral process.”
Noting that the allegations were completely false and unwarranted, the commissioner added that she will return to the country to continue working with her colleagues on the next stages of the electoral process.
After being held at the airport police post and later the VIP lounge for the better part of the night, Akombe was finally cleared for her flight.
