National Super Alliance (Nasa) presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka. PHOTO/FACEBOOK/NASA
By ABDULHAKIM SHERMAN
newsdesk@reporter.co.ke
National Super Alliance (Nasa) presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka have withdrawn from a re-run of the presidential election throwing the country in a constitutional crisis.
Mr Odinga withdrew from a re-run of the presidential election set for October 26, saying the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had failed to make necessary reforms.
Kenya’s Supreme Court last month annulled the August presidential poll, won by incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta, due to widespread irregularities in the counting process.
https://www.facebook.com/RailaOdingaKE/videos/1252362214869172/
Mr Odinga and his (NASA) had pledged not to take part in the re-run unless a series of reforms were made to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Speaking in Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday, Odinga said, “After deliberating on our position in respect of the upcoming election … we believe that all will be best served by [the party] vacating its presidential candidature in the election scheduled for 26 October 2017.
“We have come to the conclusion that there is no intention on the part of the IEBC to undertake any changes to its operations and personnel … All indications are that the election scheduled for 26 October will be worse than the previous one,” the Nasa leader said.
Mr Odinga said his withdrawal would give the electoral commission enough time to introduce reforms that will help deliver a more credible election.
Mr Odinga has also called on people to protest on Wednesday, using the slogan “no reform, no elections”.
But Mr Kenyatta said the election will go ahead regardless.
Speaking at a rally in the southern town of Voi, he said: “We have no problem going back to elections. We are sure we will get more votes than the last time.”
Kenyans on Facebook and Twitter expressed divergent views about the latest developments concerning the planned October 26, presidential re-run.
Lawyer Donald Kipkorir. PHOTO/FACEBOOK
