[NASA leader Raila Odinga. He withdrew from the presidential race slated for Thursday. Courtesy: The Star]
The African Union (AU) elections observer group has reacted to NASA leader Raila Odinga's failure to participate in the Thursday presidential repeat polls.
According to the group's chair and former South Africa President Thabo Mbeki, AU observed that they respect Mr Odinga's withdrawal from the presidential race, maintaining that it is the Opposition's right to choose to participate in the polls or not to.
Mbeki, however, called on Opposition supporters not to block those willing to take part in the polls.
“It is NASA’s right to withdraw and we respect that, they too need to respect that of those who want to vote,” he remarked.
He further added that the group was happy with IEBC's poll preparedness, despite calls from different quarters seeking the postponement of the exercise.
“We have had interactions with CS Matiang’i to discuss matters of security and indeed he gave us a detailed account of the matter,” he said.