In his newly released book, Hassan says armed men dug a hole through the back of his neighbours perimeter wall.

Former IEBC chairman Isaack Hassan has narrated how he met President Mwai Kibaki after several attempts on his life months before the 2013 general elections.

The two presidential contenders in 2013 were Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga.

Raila led the CORD coalition alongside then Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka while Uhuru took charge of the Jubilee coalition with William Ruto, now president, deputising him.

Hassan, who retired in 2016, says he had encountered over four attempts on his life that made him walk straight to the president’s office to have a talk with him.

How it begun

In his memoir, Referee of a dirty ugly game, Hassan recounted how armed men drilled a hole in his neighbour's compound in a bid to know where he and his family were staying months before the general election.

Hassan says during Ramadan celebrations, the armed men dug a hole through the back of her neighbours perimeter wall.

“They took time ransacking her home, collecting valuables and money. They even had time to eat some food they found. They asked her where I lived, and she responded that she was not sure, but it was within the neighbourhood. My family and I were all at home under guard. But we were not aware of the incident,” he says.

Hassan said the lady was not harmed but noted that she could not raise alarm until the armed men left.

“She later claimed that the armed men were really after me and she only became the unfortunate victim because her house was next to mine,” he said.

“This made me cautious about my own safety and that of my household. I reported the incident to the security team, which assessed the scene and recommended extra surveillance and measures.”

The former chair said some measures included putting up a guard room within his own compound for any eventualities.

Gunners

Within that same period, some seven men wielding AK-47 guns attacked the neighbourhood where he was living.

“They tried to forcefully gain access to the estate and in the process hurt one of the guards at the main gate, “ he said.

But Hassan said the attackers were unsuccessful in their mission which was to either kill him or abduct him in the process.

“I called my bodyguard, Nicholas Maritim, who was also the head of my security team, to inform him about the incident the same night. This was because I always released him every evening as I would then be under the security of the guards at my house for the night, and he would report for duty the following morning,” he said.

According to Hassan, Maritim called a colleague to accompany him to his house. 

“The two drove to my place in Toyota Corolla, and searched the area,” he said.

Hassan said the two drove to his place in a Toyota Corolla and searched the area.

But he noted that there was confusion on who the enemy was.

“As my bodyguards left home at around 2 am, it seemed there had not been any contact between them and police officers who had come on patrol. The two guards were then ordered to stop when they got into the driveway. But they did not stop,’ he says.

“Neither of the teams was aware they were all security officers. So they began to suspect each other.”

Hassan’s bodyguard and his colleague sped off towards the nearest gas station assuming they were under attack by criminals.

“No one was hurt. They discovered upon getting to the gas station that eight bullets had been fired at the Toyota by the police officers on patrol,” he said.

Blockers

On yet another occasion, an attempt to his life was quashed by his two friends.

“After returning to the country from the US in early 2013, I released my bodyguard and driver after work, then drove myself to the mosque for the evening for prayers.

As he left at 9 pm and was heading for my car, he said he met two former schoolmates at the parking lot. The two were serving as flying squads at the Criminal Investigations Department.

“We chatted briefly then parted. One of them, however, came up and made an inquiry. 'But Chairman, why are you alone?' he asked. 'With the recent incidences that have been going on, it’s not safe for you,'” he said.

But Hassan insisted that he would be okay but his friend's remark made him think twice.

“I requested the two to escort me home. They were happy to do so and we drove out of the mosque as they trailed me but I encountered two vehicles after I got off the main road so it was impossible to proceed,” he says.

He says one vehicle was parked a little ahead on the left side of the road while the other was parked across the road.

“I stopped my vehicle and rolled down the window as a gentleman from the vehicle blocking the road approached my car. He was in a jacket and I could see a gun protruding from it. The two flying squad officers behind me cocked their guns while shouting at the owners of the two vehicles to get moving and unblocked the road,” he says.

“The commotion broke the eerie silence of the night and the gentleman who had approached me spoke now sounding fearful. 'Ohh wako na wewe?' he asked."

Hassan said he responded that he was with the two gentlemen and the man in a jacket apologised and quickly retreated to the car.

The former IEBC chair was then escorted to his house by the two officers but turned back later to chase the two vehicles that had blocked the road.

“They had noted the number plates though they never really managed to catch up with them. Unfortunately, the number plates were also fake,” he says.

Presidential call

After some hours, Hassan met the then IG David Kimaiyo and briefed him on the security challenges he had had.

Kimaiyo then encouraged Hassan to also inform the president of what had transpired.

“I then called Francis Kimemia, the head of the public service and I requested to see the president in private and he scheduled a meeting for me,” he says.

Hassan says the first part of the meeting was a brief session where he told the president about the progress the commission had made.

“I explained the challenges we were experiencing as we got closer to the election and sought his help, particularly where I felt government interference was going overboard,” he says.

Also present in the meeting was the Private secretary to the president Nick Wanjohi, Kennedy Kihara from the office f the president and Francis Kimemia.

“Once the briefing was concluded I was ushered into the private office of the president. I was surprised that he was still in the company of Nick Wanjohi and Kimemia,” he says.

Hassan demanded that he speaks to the president alone without the two interfering.

“I went on to narrate the security incidents to the president (Mwai Kibaki) just as I has relayed them to Kimaiyo. I also asked if I could get his direct line so that I could reach him at any time,” he says.

Hassan received the president's number but never used it.

“I left the president’s office and headed to my office after our discussion. Shortly after, a content of armed security officers in plainclothes from the presidential escort unit arrived at Anniversary towers,” he said.

“Chairman we have been sent to come and give you additional security,” their leader told Hassan.

The IEBC chair says he was confused because for a minute he thought there was a misunderstanding when he saw the presidential Escort.

“I believed I would work with IG and choose my own security since I did not want to take any chances but I was wrong,” he said.