POLL DISPUTE

How IEBC commissioners subjected Kenya to shame, Raila speaks

He said they decided to go the legal way because they want peace to prevail in the country.

In Summary

• Speaking at his home in Karen on Saturday, Raila said the fact that the commissioners were working together but could not agree is shameful.

• He said he will go to the Supreme Court of Kenya to challenge the presidential results.

Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga
Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga
Image: RAILA ODINGA/TWITTER

Azimio Presidential Candidate Raila Odinga has said IEBC Commissioners' differences on the outcome of the election subjected Kenya to shame.

Speaking at his home in Karen on Saturday after a sitdown with the clergy, Raila said the fact that the commissioners were working together but could not agree is shameful.

"If those who were given the mandate to conduct election in our country can do such shameful acts, it shows our democracy is still far, and at this time people wouldn't be celebrating on a winner," Raila said. 

"If the seven IEBC commissioners did not give a statement as one body, then that was a bad show in eyes of other countries."

Raila said they decided to go the legal way because they want peace to prevail in the country.

"We want peace in our country and that is why we went the legal way so that we can take the evidence that we have that the elections were not transparent and fair," he said.

Raila was referring to the four IEBC commissioners who distanced themselves from the election results.

The four led by commissioner Juliana Cherera said they cannot take ownership of the results because of the opaque nature they have been handled. 

"Some things need to be put out there as you can see the four of us are here and not at Bomas where the results are going to be announced because of the opaque nature of how this phase has been handled," Cherera said.

"We therefore cannot take ownership of this result that is going to be announced," she added.

Despite their protests, IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati went ahead to declare William Ruto as the president-elect after garnering 7,176,141 votes representing 50.49 per cent of the total vote. Raila got 6,942,930, which was 48.85 per cent of the total vote.

Raila claimed that the declaration of Ruto as the president-elect was null and void.

Raila said he will go to the Supreme Court of Kenya to challenge the presidential results.

"Let no one take the law into their own hands. We are pursuing constitutional and lawful channels to invalidate Chebukati's illegal and unconstitutional pronouncement. We are certain that justice will prevail," Raila said.

His legal team is exploring seven crucial grounds to overturn Ruto's win at the Supreme Court.


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