Kenyan opposition leader, Raila Odinga on
Tuesday says his coalition would not participate in the re-run of a
presidential election proposed for October 17 unless it is given “legal and
constitutional” guarantees.
Tuesday says his coalition would not participate in the re-run of a
presidential election proposed for October 17 unless it is given “legal and
constitutional” guarantees.
The opposition
also said it is planning to file dozens of challenges to results from
races lower down the ticket, including legislative and local seats.
also said it is planning to file dozens of challenges to results from
races lower down the ticket, including legislative and local seats.
Odinga’s
conditions for participating in the repeat presidential election
include the removal of six officials at the election board.
conditions for participating in the repeat presidential election
include the removal of six officials at the election board.
He wants
criminal investigations to be opened against them.
criminal investigations to be opened against them.
“You
cannot do a mistake twice and expect to get different results,” Odinga
told reporters. “A number of the officials of the commission should be
sent home, some of them should be investigated for the heinous crimes
they committed.”
cannot do a mistake twice and expect to get different results,” Odinga
told reporters. “A number of the officials of the commission should be
sent home, some of them should be investigated for the heinous crimes
they committed.”
Kenya’s Supreme Court ordered
on Friday that the Aug. 8 vote be re-run within 60 days, saying
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory by 1.4 million votes was undermined
by irregularities in the process. Kenyatta was not accused of any
wrongdoing.
on Friday that the Aug. 8 vote be re-run within 60 days, saying
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory by 1.4 million votes was undermined
by irregularities in the process. Kenyatta was not accused of any
wrongdoing.
The ruling, the first time in
Africa that a court had overturned the re-election of a sitting
president, was hailed by Odinga supporters as “historic”.
Africa that a court had overturned the re-election of a sitting
president, was hailed by Odinga supporters as “historic”.
Analysts
have said it is likely to lead to some short-term volatility in East
Africa’s biggest economy, but could build confidence in institutions
longer-term.
have said it is likely to lead to some short-term volatility in East
Africa’s biggest economy, but could build confidence in institutions
longer-term.
On Monday, the election board said it would hold new elections on Oct. 17.
But Odinga said he wanted elections held on Oct. 24 or 31 instead.
“There
will be no elections on the seventeenth of October until the conditions
that we have spelt out in the statement are met,” he said.
will be no elections on the seventeenth of October until the conditions
that we have spelt out in the statement are met,” he said.
Odinga
has contested and lost the last three presidential elections in Kenya.
Each time, he has said the vote was rigged against him.
has contested and lost the last three presidential elections in Kenya.
Each time, he has said the vote was rigged against him.
The
opposition also plans to lodge 62 court cases contesting governorship,
lawmaker, and local seats, spokeswoman Kathleen Openda told Reuters.
opposition also plans to lodge 62 court cases contesting governorship,
lawmaker, and local seats, spokeswoman Kathleen Openda told Reuters.
At
least 33 court cases were filed contesting election results before the
presidential election was annulled, said Andrew Limo, spokesman for the
election board. Others had been filed since but he did not have the
updated figure.
least 33 court cases were filed contesting election results before the
presidential election was annulled, said Andrew Limo, spokesman for the
election board. Others had been filed since but he did not have the
updated figure.
Limo said the numbers had not yet reached the
same level as during the 2013 elections, when the board received
challenges to 189 results.
same level as during the 2013 elections, when the board received
challenges to 189 results.
Source: Reuters
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