Nairobi, KENYA: National Super Alliance flag bearer Raila Odinga has not yet officially withdrawn from the repeat presidential election set to to be held on October 26th, this is according to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
Through a statement released on Wednesday, IEBC said that Mr. Odinga and his running mate had sent a letter indicating that they had decided to withdraw from the fresh Presidential Election but had not yet done so officially.
“We note that the Rt. Honorable Raila Odinga and his running mate sent a letter dated 10th October 2017 indicating that they had decided to withdraw from the fresh Presidential Election.
They however have not submitted the statutory Form 24A. Once the Commission receives the requisite Notice from any of the candidates, it will process the same in accordance with the requisite provision of the Law.” read part of the press statement.
During a press briefing in Nairobi on Teusday, Odinga announced that together with his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka, they willnot take part in the repeat election scheduled for October 26.
“After deliberating on our position in respect of the upcoming election, considering the interests of the people of Kenya, the region and the world at large, we believe that all will be best served by Nasa vacating its presidential candidature in the election scheduled for 26 October 2017,” said Mr Odinga.
Mr. Odinga said the Jubilee administration’s amendment to the Electoral laws demonstrate that they are not committed to a credible election.
Also, IEBC has decided to include all the 8 presidential candidates after High court ordered that Third Way Alliance candidate Ekuru Aukot be included in the October 26 repeat election.
“In the Judgment delivered today, the Court directed that the name of Ekuru Aukot can be included by way of corrigenda. However, since all candidates who participated in the last election were entitled to run in the fresh presidential election, the Commission will comply with the direction to include the names of the other candidates by way of corrigenda.
It is therefore the Commission’s position that the candidates for the fresh presidential election scheduled for 26th October 2017 shall include all the eight (8) candidates who participated in the 8th August 2017 Presidential Election.” Read the statement.
