[NASA leader Raila Odinga in a past event. His withdrawal from presidential race attracted global coverage. Photo/Nation]
Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s decision to withdraw from October 26th presidential race dominated International Media for the better part of Tuesday.
To restore credibility in electoral system, he said, his decision would allow IEBC to cancel the elections and do necessary reforms.
“His decision to withdraw could be a strategy to exit from political scenes in his own terms,” wrote Dickens Olewe of BBC.
New York Times, a publication that had been widely criticized before Supreme Court ruling for allegedly ridiculing Odinga said:” With Mr. Odinga’s withdrawal, the judiciary will decide once again what happens next.”
“The court could allow one candidate, Mr. Kenyatta, to run on his own, handing him a victory. Or it could open the vote to weaker candidates who had initially run, which would also be likely to result in a victory for the president.”
United Kingdom’s Guardian said the move could lead yet again to another heated political climate that could plunge the country into chaos.
”However, the fallout could be damaging to Kenya, which has a history of disputed elections and political violence,” read part of it.
IEBC is set to announce its next course of action following the unprecedented move by the veteran opposition leader.