Raila Odinga: My war is with exclusion

National Super Alliance leader Raila Odinga while speaking at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Washington DC criticised the United States of America and other democratic nations for averting their gaze on unlawful acts and supporting a tainted repeat presidential election on October 26.

Raila said Kenya like any other African country, is facing a crisis in its democratic development as a result of election crisis triggered by rigging and unlawfully holding on to power by incumbents.

The NASA leader said elections in Kenya are held like rituals, institutions such as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and Supreme Court have been targeted by the current regime after the annulment of August 8 election.

"What I call the reign of terror against the Supreme Court and the electoral commission began with the torture and murder of Chris Msando, the Commission’s Chief of Technology responsible for the integrity of the entire voting system one week before the 8th August election. He had received death threats and sought protection from the police, in vain," said Raila.

“The Supreme Court ruling that annulled the August 8 election that was marred with irregularities and illegalities was historic but the judges have been so far threatened, “he added.

Raila Odinga reiterated that IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati publicly confessed he could not guarantee a free fair and credible election just 8 days to the repeat poll because he was under ‘politically motivated pressures’. Former IEBC commissioner Roselyne Akombe also resigned saying that the commission could not deliver a credible election.

According to Raila, the Supreme Court was unable to convene a seating to hear a case on whether election could be held on October 26 following the shooting of Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu’s bodyguard and failure by the state to offer more security to the judges thus sending shock waves, for they feared for their lives.

Raila condemned the killing of unarmed protesters and innocent children by the police during the election period.

“NASA is calling for an interim government to ensure electoral reforms take place,” said Raila.

He vowed to lead his supporters in conducting peaceful protests, picketing, product boycotts, strikes and filing of petitions as measures to put pressure on Government to hold a fresh credible poll that will unite the divided country.

"Kenyans know that the decades-long struggle for justice and our grand new Constitutional order was waged and won peacefully. That is why NASA’s leadership is centered on a campaign of peaceful resistance to unlawfully constituted authority. We have convened a People’s Assembly to guide the country to a fresh, free and fair presidential election, as decreed by the Supreme Court," he added.