By Raila Odinga, the opposition leader and NASA flag bearer with his team still hold their stand upon not participating in the repeat election which is due on next week’s Thursday 26 October, 2017, unless conditions are met.
Mr. Odinga still insists that his party’s participation in the repeat polls will only be possible if some of the top IEBC officials have resigned.
Anti-IEBC demonstrations have occasionally been held in Kenya under the slogan ‘no reforms, no elections’ as per earlier suggested by their leader Raila Odinga.
On Thursday, 10 October, morning, Mr. Odinga headed to meet the IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati protesting the inclusion of his name on the 26 October ballot paper yet he had made himself clear he is interested in the elections no more.
The two are reported to have met at Chebukati’s Anniversary Towers office for the discussion.
“I came here to ask why they have printed my name on the ballot paper yet we clearly wrote to them indicating that we had pulled out of the election. We are not participating in the election,” Raila told the journalists.
Reflecting on Mr. Chebukati’s words, Raila emphasized that he cannot involve himself in the election that even the electoral commission’s chairman already admitted would not be credible.
Wafula Chebukati, the electoral commission chairperson had earlier on admitted to the fact and NASA’s claims that the repeat election polls would not be free and fair and were full of uncertainties.
“I fear that IEBC is unlikely to conduct a credible election with the ongoing misunderstandings in the commission,” the chairman said.
Still on Thursday, the Jubilee Party led by Uhuru Kenyatta filed a petition at the Supreme Court against Raila Odinga in what they termed as ‘contempt of court’
In the petition, Jubilee has explained that Raila’s withdrawal from the election has caused insecurity in the country witnessed by the continuous anti-IEBC protests that happen around the streets of Nairobi and supported by Raila.
They also noted that the training of their Jubilee agents is being disrupted by Raila Odinga’s NASA strongholds.
“Our training of the local agents of the Jubilee Party is being obstructed especially Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga and Prof Anyang Nyongo of Kisumu by threats that have been verbalized by the two and are in public domain,” said Jubilee’s part of the petition, signed by Secretary General Raphael Tuju.
Jubilee added that the actions are illegal and a violation of the Supreme Court determination on September 1, 2017 and subsequent detailed judgment on September 20, 2017 – Jubilee Party explained.
The Jubilee Secretary General also added that, “The election was ordered by the Supreme Court therefore, If Raila has a problem, he should then go back to the Supreme Court. The election is not about Uhuru and NASA, it is about the country, it is about Kenya.”
“We will hold the demonstrations all over the country on October 26. We can’t participate in a sham election, we need a credible election not just an election,” promised Mr Odinga.
Reporter: Shamilah Namuddu