Odinga to leave for UK, amid uncertainty of repeat election

NASA presidential candidate, Raila Odinga, is scheduled to travel out of the country on Tuesday, October 10 just 16 days to the October 26 Repeat Presidential Election, raising eyebrows that the opposition may heed to their unending threats of boycotting the polls if electoral commission does not meet its so-called ‘irreducible minimums’.

According to the National Super Alliance (NASA) leadership, the former prime minister is expected to be out of the country for at least five days for an international conference in the United Kingdom, an unusual move for a presidential candidate few days to the election.

Unlike Jubilee who are conducting massive campaigns across the country to woo voters and receiving defectors, the opposition has been conducting low profile rallies-having cancelled its coast campaign tour this weekend and advocating for their ‘No Reforms No Election’ call.

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party leader will deliver a key note address at Chatham house, the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London on Friday, October 13 from 3:30 pm to 4:30 pm.

According to details posted on the opposition’s website, Odinga will discuss the Supreme Court ruling that annulled the August 8 Election.

He will also speak on the reforms he and the NASA coalition would like to see ahead of the 26 October election, and how the next government can drive forward institutional reforms to strengthen Kenya’s democracy. His return date remains unclear.

In a statement to newsrooms, Odinga has warned President Kenyatta against using the opposition as a scapegoat over the country’s ailing economy, this coming after Jubilee leaders led by the Head of State alleged that anti-IEBC demos and threats to boycott election have caused a slowdown of the economy.

“NASA wishes to tell President Kenyatta to stop the victim-in-chief mentality and accept that he has caused the trouble. He must take responsibility for the situation in the country. Kenya is where it is because the president and his jubilee party tried to steal elections and were caught and stopped,” said Mr. Odinga.

NASA is expected to go on with country-wide demos on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays until the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission heed to their demands.