John Adoyi, PBA Journalism Mentee
Presidential candidate of Azimio la Umoja, Kenya’s main opposition coalition party in the last week election, Raila Odinga has rejected the result and threatened to pursue legal option.
The Kenya’s Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IBEDC) on Monday announced the country’s vice president, William Ruto as winner of the poll.
Announcement of the result of the election which took place on August 9 was delayed.
Violent protests in Odinga’s stronghold in Nairobi, reportedly, erupted after the announcement of the results on Monday evening.
Odinga at a press conference on Tuesday, described the outcome of the election as a total travesty of the country’s constitution. “What we saw yesterday (Monday) was a travesty and a blatant disregard of the constitution of Kenya.
“We totally and without reservations reject the presidential results,” Odinga stated.
The 77-year-old former prime minister claimed that he was cheated of victory in 2007, 2013 and 2017 presidential elections.
He accused the electoral body chairman, Mr. Chebukati of disregarding the constitution of the country in the conduct of the poll.
Speaking on his next line of action after rejecting the result, Odinga said, “I do not want to fully address our strategies going forward but… we will be pursuing all constitutional and legal options available to us.”
Join our WhatsApp Channel“We are pursuing constitutional and lawful channels to invalidate Chebukati illegal and unconstitutional pronouncement. We are certain that justice will prevail,” Odinga said
The country has had history of election violence in the past that led to bloodshed.
During campaigns both frontline candidates had pledged to settle any issue relating to outcome of the election in court rather than resorting to street violence that has been the case in the past.
Odinga urged his supporters to remain calm for legal action to be taken.
