Kenya Election Rerun: Raila Odinga still a “contender”

Raila Odinga may have dropped out of the Kenya election rerun but he still is a main contender and here’s why: It is evident with the turn-out of events:

• He is one person who has been challenging The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC)
• He has been challenging Jubilee, the ruling party
• Not only did he drop out of the race, he also called for his supporters to boycott the election rerun.
• Because of Raila Odinga, The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) suspended voting in several areas, including Kisumu, Migori, Siaya, and Homa Bay to October 28th
• Still because of him the October 28th voting was delayed which will no longer take place. They were postponed because of violent clashes in the region, as people in the opposition stronghold rejected attempts to organise the polls.
• Even with Odinga out of the race the latest actual figures from 267 constituencies show 6,553,858 Kenyans turned out to vote in repeat pol with votes so far showing UHURU with 6,217,553 votes RAILA – 59,743 votes for Raila and 17,158 votes for AUKOT.
• Even though President Uhuru Kenyatta is cruising home to victory, it is an assumed victory that is tainted with early estimates of the turnout at below 35 percent, compared with the 80 per cent turnout in the 8 August election.
• The poll snub by voters indicated that they heeded the call by the opposition leader Raila Odinga, to stay at home.

Background summary

Kenya held a presidential election rerun On October 26 because the Supreme Court nullified the results of the August 8 poll, which was won by President Uhuru Kenyatta. On the August 8 elections the two main contenders for the Presidential position was the incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga.

The August poll was won by Uhuru Kenyatta with much digress from the opposition as might have expected. In August, more than 15 million people cast their ballots, representing 78 percent of the registered voters.

August 11 the IEBC reported results indicating that incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta was re-elected with 54% of the vote but the result was later annulled by the Supreme Court.

The annulment led to another election to be called, which ultimately would be 26 October. On October 10 Raila Odinga dropped out of the race saying it won’t be free and fair.

Even so Raila Odinga was still on the ballot even if he had officially dropped out of the race. He also called for his supporters to boycott the rerun which Raila Odinga has announced that on Monday 30 October he will be announcing his way forward otherwise we do, however, know that an application to the courts to have the election rerun annulled is on the cards.

It leaves you to wonder if Kenya will have a democratically elected President in 2017. Others say like in Rwanda with Kegame, Uhuru Kenyatta is an obvious choice for next President as it is a “one horse race” I say he will not be as swift as Kegame, as Odinga is adamant at challenging Kenyatta’s stay in power.