Activist Okiya Omtatah’s application adds new twist in poll boycott

Activist Okiya Omtatah Photo:Standard

An activist has petitioned the High Court to stop the electoral commission from announcing Uhuru Kenyatta as the president-elect.

Okiya Omtatah’s application adds a new twist to National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga’s announcement that he would not participate in the repeat October 26 presidential election.

Mr Omtatah is seeking orders to compel Uhuru to vacate office on November 1 and a caretaker government formed because there are indications that there will be no repeat election.

Omtatah (right) claims the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has no powers to declare Uhuru as having been elected unopposed. He fears the Government might exert pressure on the commission to announce Uhuru president-elect.

He argues that the country requires a caretaker government before a fresh election is held after another 60 days and is proposing that Chief Justice David Maraga should be appointed the head, or that both NASA and Jubilee should appoint a team with equal numbers to run it.

Justice John Mativo certified the application as urgent and directed the activist to serve IEBC, the Attorney General and Uhuru before the hearing on October 17.