Kenya Election: Raila Odinga Pulls Out Of Re-Run

In what could be described as shocking, Raila Odinga, Kenyan opposition leader has pulled out of this month’s presidential election re-run.

Mr Odinga said his withdrawal would give the electoral commission enough time to introduce reforms in the system, to avoid a repeat of the travails that marred the August poll, which was nullified by the country’s Supreme Court.

The apex Court annulled the result of the original 8 August poll, which saw Uhuru Kenyatta declared winner, after finding irregularities.

The Court fixed a re-run election scheduled for October 26.

It is still unclear if the re-run election will go ahead or Mr Kenyatta will be declared winner.

“We have come to the conclusion that there is no intention on the part of the IEBC [electoral commission] 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,” Odinga said.

“Considering the interests of the people of Kenya, the region and the world at large it was best that I withdraw from the race.”

The opposition party has previously made clear its participation in the election was contingent on reforms being made.

Mr Odinga had told his followers to protest using the slogan “no reform, no elections”.