Raila Odinga addresses his supporters in Nairobi, calling on them to boycott the October 26 poll. [Photo/NASA Coalition]
The clock ticks furiously towards the repeat presidential election as ordered by Kenya’s Supreme Court in an unprecedented ruling that surprised many.
The build-up to October 26 has indeed been characterized dangerous political bickering that has, if anything, has heightened the tensions in the country long viewed by outsiders as a strong democracy and an island of peace in a turbulent sea.
But that reputation faces a tough test in the coming days as Kenyans remain divided on the October 26 poll, with those allied to the ruling Jubilee Party welcoming the vote and those allied to the opposition calling for the postponement of the vote until certain irreducible minimums are met.
Raila Odinga has asked his supporters across the country to stay away from polling stations. President Uhuru Kenyatta on his part has called on his supporters to come out in droves and vote for him.
A sense of weariness with the protracted political crisis has gripped Kenyans across the political spectrum, with many wondering when normalcy will return.
Foreign envoys, religious leaders and members of the business community have prodded the two protagonists, President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga, to reach out one another to sooth the tensions in Kenya.
The impact on the economy has been massive.
About 700 billion shillings have been lost.
In his major announcement on the eve of the poll, said that the opposition’s determination to press forward would not waver even in the face of intimidation. He announced that NASA had now morphed into NRM(National Resistance Movement).
''How you have voted or for that matter not voted should not change how you relate to everyone else in our Kenyan family.'' The head of state said
In televised address to the nation, strived to strike a conciliatory balance by stating that the rights of those who had resolved to boycott of the fresh presidential election.
Kenyans face tense days going forward as they follow events as they unfold with great trepidation.
The International Crisis Group has strongly warned about the prospect of violence should the poll proceed, asking the IEBC to postpone it until fundamental issues are addressed.