Abduction, murder of polls officer

Daniel Musyoka's home in Lanet, Nakuru County. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Daniel Musyoka, an officer with the electoral body, IEBC, was lured from his work station as he was about to declare results from Embakasi East Constituency.

He was subsequently abducted and murdered. His remains were discovered this week, in Oloitoktok, Kajiado County.

Musyoka gave a press interview ahead of polls day, hailing the high level of preparation at IEBC. He urged voters to come out in big numbers and cast their ballots.

There is nothing controversial about the man, at least his statement did not jeopardise anyone's prospects of being elected. Neither did he have a high profile.

He was one of thousands of such officers deployed to man the polls. Yet, someone found him to be a threat who merited elimination.

Even more intriguing, he was on the phone as he made his way from his base in Embakasi, taking a boda boda (although he had a driver at his disposal), to his eventual death.

There is so much that Kenyans don't know about him and his work, and why his life ended in the manner that it did. Even more intriguing, it appears his abductors did not murder him right away; they waited until the polls were reported. Then they murdered him.

There isn't much one can say to take away the pain and anguish that afflicts his family.

It was heart-breaking to hear the family express their hopes that he was still alive and would return home safely.

To them we say, pole. From the police, we expect speedy investigations.