Political crisis deepens as Raila exits presidential race

Kenya was Tuesday thrust into political uncertainty after opposition leader Raila Odinga withdrew from the repeat poll that was due to take place at the end of the month, insisting the electoral commission had not shown a willingness to clean its house ahead of the election.

Mr Odinga’s Nasa coalition, however, insisted there was nothing for rival Jubilee supporters to celebrate as the Supreme Court had in a 2013 decision provided for fresh nominations to occur in the event a candidate in the repeat poll withdraws before election day.

“After deliberating on our position in respect of the upcoming election, considering the interests of the people of Kenya, the region and the world at large, we believe that all will be best served by Nasa vacating its presidential candidature in the election scheduled for 26 October 2017,” said Mr Odinga.

That means the IEBC must call fresh elections within 90 days as provided for in the Supreme Court decision.

Mr Odinga’s decision is expected to keep the dark clouds hanging over the Kenyan economy even longer as it raises the possibility of leaving the country in political limbo for another three months.   

Legally, the fresh round of election that will follow Mr Odinga’s exit is open to other candidates as opposed to the rematch that was exclusive to Mr Raila and his archrival President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Mr Kenyatta Tuesday took a swipe at the opposition, insisting the October 26 polls will go on as planned and within the 60 days that the Supreme Court ordered in its September 1 ruling in line with the Constitution.

“The October 26 elections will take place whether they participate or not,” Mr Kenyatta said yesterday while on a campaign trail at the Coast. “No one individual can stand in the path of progress for 45 million people.”

The exit of Mr Odinga, who is giving the presidency his fourth stab, now throws the IEBC in disarray as it has to go back to the drawing board and start the election journey all over again.

Mr Odinga’s party has been pushing for changes at the IEBC, including the removal of top managers after the Supreme Court quashed the August 8 presidential election, citing irregularities and illegalities.

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The economy has, however, taken a hit from the prolonged electioneering period and the majority of Kenyans had hoped that a lasting political settlement would be found in the October 26 election.

Over the past couple of months, the opposition and the ruling party have engaged in bitter rhetoric, spooking investor confidence and causing sharp drops in industrial output as well as consumption of diesel and electricity.

The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa) said most investors had postponed their decisions awaiting a political settlement – a decision that has triggered a slowdown in spending and consumption of goods. 

The Treasury has lowered its 2017 economic growth forecast to 5.5 per cent from 5.9 per cent due to drought and political uncertainty. 

The Nasa coalition said it will continue with planned demonstrations today and thrice every week in their quest for electoral reforms.

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