Kenya: Official who oversaw 2007 chaotic poll dies

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya's former electoral chief who oversaw a flawed electoral process in 2007 has died following a battle with cancer.

A family spokesman, John Musyoki, says the 74-year-old Samuel Kivuitu died Monday of cardiac arrest. The death comes one week before Kenya holds its next presidential elections, the first since a flawed 2007 vote triggered violence in which more than 1,000 people were killed and 600,000 were evicted from their homes.

A 2008 government report said the electoral commission overseeing the 2007 poll lacked independence, capacity and functionality. The report said results of that election were so perverted it was impossible to determine who won the presidency.

Kenyan leaders hope a new constitution, an improved judiciary and police reforms will help next week's election proceed without violence.