NASA leader Raila Odinga. [Photo/The Star]
National Super Alliance (Nasa) leader Raila Odinga has withdrawn from the October 26 fresh presidential election.
Odinga said the decision was in the interest of the country.
He asked the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to call for a fresh election, saying that his withdrawal was a win-win for everyone.
According to The Star, IEBC says Odinga's decision had been overtaken by time, because they had gazetted the names of presidential candidates.
Nasa leaders have accused the Jubilee Party, led by President Uhuru Kenyatta, of planning to rig the fresh election by passing amendments to the Election Law.
Nasa has maintained that they will not participate in the election ordered by the Supreme Court, if some IEBC officials are not sacked.
Among the IEBC officials the opposition accuses of bungling August polls is CEO Ezra Chiloba.
Odinga says that the Supreme Court in 2013 expanded the meaning of Article 138(8) (b) of the constitution to include withdrawal of a presidential candidate.
"The Supreme Court clarified that the relevant article is 138 (8) (b) which deals with cancellation of a presidential election, in the event of the death of the president or the deputy, on or before the scheduled date. The Supreme Court expanded the clause to include when a candidate withdraws from the presidential election," the former Prime Minister said, as quoted by The Star.
"The implication of this provision is that upon our withdrawal, the election scheduled for October 26 stands cancelled," he added.