Kenya: Opposition leader's exit throws poll in doubt

By Magdalene Mukami and Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya

Weeks away from controversial repeat presidential polls, Kenya’s opposition leader today officially withdrew from the race, throwing the fate of the election in doubt.

“All indications are that the election scheduled for 26 October will be worse than the previous one,” said Raila Odinga, a former prime minister, referring to the Aug. 8 polls, which Kenya’s Supreme Court invalidated last month.

At a press conference, he said the country’s Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has no intention of making “any changes to its operations and personnel to ensure that the illegalities and irregularities” that led to the August polls being annulled do not happen again.

“This being the case, it is our conviction that our withdrawal is in the best interest of the country and a win-win for everyone.”

Odinga timed his announcement to coincide with lawmakers allied to the ruling Jubilee Party in parliament fighting to change electoral laws just weeks before the new election.

Odinga also said the ruling party and the electoral commission are not complying with Kenya’s Supreme Court ruling calling for free, fair and credible elections.

The court had ruled that if one of the candidates steps aside during the race, there cannot be an unopposed win, thus calling for fresh nominations if that happened.

Experts say that under Kenyan law, the electoral commission will have to postpone the elections.