Kenya's Opposition Leader, Odinga, Rejects Repeat Election Date

Mr. Odinga said that his National Super Alliance (NASA) was rejecting the date because the electoral commission did not consult with him and other stakeholders before setting the date, as required by law7

 

Raila Odinga, the opposition leader in Kenya, has rejected the October 17, 2017 date set for the repeat of last month’s presidential election, the results of which were annulled by the Supreme Court.

Mr. Odinga said that his National Super Alliance (NASA) was rejecting the date because the electoral commission did not consult with him and other stakeholders before setting the date, as required by law.
The opposition leader announced this on Tuesday at the Wilson Airport in Nairobi before leaving for Nyamira.
He maintained that President Uhuru Kenyatta and his ruling Jubilee Party, not the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), fixed the new date.
Mr. Odinga also accused the incumbent president of bribing IEBC staff members and therefore demanded that such electoral officials are removed from the commission.
Accompanied by his running mate, Kalonzo Musyoka, Mr. Odinga demanded legal and constitutional guarantees from the IEBC that the repeat election will be free and fair.
Towards this end, the opposition leader asked for the proper auditing of the technology used to transmit the annulled election results.
“It is inappropriate and foolhardy for the IEBC to embark on the planning of a fresh election without full compliance with the Supreme Court orders in the redeployment of technology in the fresh presidential election. We therefore demand a full audit of technology in use in full compliance with the law," NASA said.
Mr. Odinga alleged that there were discrepancies in the voters’ register during the August 8, 2017 poll and called for its proper review before the fresh election.
"There will be no elections on the 17th [of October, 2017] unless these, our demands, are met," Mr. Odinga said.
On Monday, the electoral commission announced October 17 as the new date for Kenya's fresh presidential election. The Kenyan Supreme Court had indicted the IEDC and annulled the August 8 poll, ordering that a fresh election be conducted within 60 days of the ruling.