Raila Odinga leads protests in Nairobi. He has bailed out of the presidential race and said elections will not happen on October 26. [Photo/www.the-star.co.ke]
While the Supreme Court's unprecedented decision to annul the August 8 presidential election triggered uncertainty, Raila Odinga's withdrawal from the fresh presidential election plunged the country into even greater uncertainty
Odinga bailed out over what NASA has said is the failure of the IEBC to meet its irreducible minimums.
His main rival, President Uhuru Kenyatta, in a string of rejoinders, has charged that Odinga's irreducible minimums are a ploy to push Kenya into the depths of crisis to necessitate the formation of a shared government.
Unlike Jubilee Party which has vouched for October 26 as the day for the fresh presidential election, the NASA brigade has strongly maintained that elections will not be held on October 26 leading to the creation of a new slogan, ‘’October 26, No Elections!’’ that has replaced the ‘’ No reforms, No elections slogan’’.
Both sides across the political spectrum continue to take increasingly hard-line positions as October 26 fast closes in, feeding a sense of uncertainty and tension in the country.
Foreign envoys have expressed their deep concerns about the volatile situation in the country.
Addressing the media in Nairobi, Robert Godec said,’’The deteriorating political environment is undermining preparations for the new presidential election. Inflammatory rhetoric, attacks on institutions and growing insecurity all make holding a credible and fair poll difficult.’’
Owners of businesses have bemoaned the impact that the uncertainty has had on their profits.
‘’Demand for my products has significantly gone down due to the political situation in the country. I have been forced to lay off members of my staff.’’ Dominick Omanga, a car dealer, laments.
Investors in the country have embraced a wait-and-see approach, withholding important business decisions hoping that the situation will improve.
Bidco CEO, Vimal Shah has implored President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga to work towards an amicable resolution of the issues that have to be resolved.
‘’The bickering is not doing any good to the business environment in the country,’’ he said in a recent BBC interview.
Raila Odinga is widely expected to issue a statement to his supporters on the eve of the repeat poll that will chart the way forward.
Heavy deployments of security forces have been done in areas perceived to be flashpoints ahead of the poll.
No one is certain whether the repeat election will be held, and what will happen thereafter.