Odinga
Kenya’s Presidency: Again, Odinga loses in controversial election
On his fifth time, trying to be president of the East Africa’s largest economy, Raila Odinga, son of the country’s first Deputy President and a former Prime Minister failed to clinch victory. But this is the nearest Odinga had come to victory, securing 48.87 percent of votes counted while the Deputy President William Ruto won the election with 50.4%.
The country’s electoral commission has announced the result. But the final tallying of the poll’s result has been described as opaque and dramatic
The announcement was delayed amid scuffles and allegations of vote-rigging by Mr Odinga’s campaign. If Odinga feels short-changed, he is expected to approach the court within seven days of the announcement of the result.
Four of the seven members of the electoral commission refused to endorse the announcement, saying the results were “opaque”.
“We cannot take ownership of the result that is going to be announced because of the opaque nature of this last phase of the general election,” said Juliana Cherera, the vice-chairperson of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
“We are going to give a comprehensive statement… and again we urge Kenyans to keep calm. There is an open door that people can go to court and the rule of law will prevail,” she said.
Mr Odinga’s party agent earlier alleged that there were “irregularities” and “mismanagement” in the election.
This was the first time Mr Ruto, 55, had run for president. He has served as deputy president for 10 years, but fell out with President Uhuru Kenyatta, who backed Mr Odinga to succeed him.
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