He had been missing for a day before his body was discovered in a forest in Kikuyu on July 29, 2017. Alongside him was the body of a 21-year-old woman, Carol Ngumbu.
Msando's body was officially identified on July 31, 2017, at the Nairobi Funeral Home, previously known as City Mortuary. An autopsy revealed that Msando had been tortured and strangled, but his killers have not been identified even after all these years.
On this anniversary, former electoral commission member Roselyn Akombe shared a heartfelt message. She expressed hope that those responsible for Msando's death would eventually face justice.
In her message, Akombe recalled the pain and confusion surrounding his death, mentioning how his wife had been distraught when his body was found.
Msando's tragic death occurred just as he was about to supervise a critical public test of a new voting system.
This system, the Kenya Integrated Electoral Management System (KIEMS), was designed to ensure votes were counted accurately and to prevent tampering. Msando had been confident that KIEMS would help eliminate election fraud.
The importance of this new system was highlighted because a similar system used in the 2013 elections had failed.
That failure led to manual vote counting, which many believed allowed for vote manipulation. Msando's death raised many questions, particularly because it happened right before he was set to demonstrate this crucial system.
The chair of the electoral commission at the time, Wafula Chebukati, emphasized the need to find out who was behind Msando's murder and their motives. This question remains unanswered to this day.
Details about the state of Msando's body added to the horror of his death. He was found in just his underwear, and there were claims that one of his fingers was missing.
Chief government pathologist Johansen Oduor, who performed the autopsy, confirmed that Msando had died from strangulation and had cuts on his right arm.
Msando's death drew international attention. Both the United States and the United Kingdom condemned the murder and offered to help with the investigation. Despite these offers, the case remains unsolved, and his killers have not been brought to justice.
The impact of Msando's death extended beyond his family and friends. It also affected the electoral commission and the broader Kenyan public. Msando had been a key figure in efforts to ensure free and fair elections in Kenya.
His belief in the new voting system and his determination to see it implemented made him a crucial player in the country's democratic process.
In the years following his death, there have been several related events. Msando's brother and mother have also passed away, adding to the family's grief.
Additionally, Irene Masit, a former commissioner who opposed the election of President William Ruto, left the country after receiving death threats.
Msando's death remains a painful memory for many, especially those who knew him personally and worked closely with him.
His commitment to electoral justice and his efforts to prevent vote rigging made him a respected figure. The ongoing mystery of his murder continues to haunt those who believe in the importance of transparent and fair elections.
0 Comments