Six employees of Kenya's leading telecommunications company,
Safaricom ,are under investigation following the bungled General Election in
which the presidential results were annulled by the Supreme Court.
The six have found themselves in a tight spot after the
Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Keriako Tobiko instructed Director of
Criminal Investigation (DCI) Ndegwa Muhoro to commence the probe.
This is after the National Super Alliance (NASA) claimed
that Safaricom aided the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC)
in the rigging of the just-concluded poll.
According to a letter by the DPP, the six include Thibaud
Rerolle (Director Technical and IT, Anthony Gacanja ( Head of
technology Security), Shaka Kwach (Head of Special Projects – in
charge of Elections), Robert Mutai ( Head of Technology Strategy,
Assurance and Governance), Farouk Gaffour ( Head of Network and
Service Operations) and Andrew Masila ( Senior Manager, Strategy and
Architecture).
The Opposition through its lawyer A.T. Oluoch &
Advocates alleged that the staff members did not provide a safe passage in the
transfer of results during the General Election.
"The six are under investigation for a possible
offense that allegedly may have been committed by Safaricom and its staff
during the handling of the contract between it and IEBC in providing safe
passage of data from KIEMS KITS to a remote server based in France,” the
DPP’s letter read in part.
Mr. Tobiko directed DCI to complete the investigation within
21 days and hand the report to the office of the DPP.
NASA leaders led by presidential candidate Raila Odinga
publicly accused Safaricom of playing a huge role in the rigging of the
elections.
Mr. Odinga threatened to ask the public to boycott the
telecommunication company until it takes responsibility.
However, Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore dismissed the
allegation noting that politicians should seize from dragging the firm into
politics.
On Tuesday Collymore threatened to take action against
persons engaged in rumor-mongering about the telecom.
Mr. Collymore divulged he will be filing private suits
against those making false accusations of the company’s staff.
"These utterances are callous and reckless, considering
they are just baseless allegations putting people's lives at risk. I will hold
those accusers personally responsible if any harm meets my staff," Mr.
Collymore said.
He added: "Those who want to accuse must engage me
because I am the leader of the team. Don't accuse my innocent members of staff.
I reiterate these comments are unfair and unjust...let them fight their
political agenda instead of dragging us into their woes."
