[Opposition leader Raila Odinga in a past rally. He almost conceded defeat to Uhuru due to international pressure. Photo/Nation]
Opposition leader Raila Odinga after all may have conceded defeat were it not pressure from a section of his lieutenants, claims an insider who spoke in confidence.
Even with massive evidence of rigging and with strict constitutional limits, Odinga was against the idea of taking the matter to court.
And with immense pressure from Western media and a number of diplomats, Odinga is said to have contemplated conceding defeat for the sake of maintaining his credibility internationally.
“We had evidence of rigging and he was not of the opinion we go to court,” the insider said adding that it took intervention of his close allies to arrive at the decision.
The source adds:”The international media had started portraying him as a power hungry leader and someone who never accepts outcome. The international observers had also made their mind and this almost made him quit to safeguard his reputation.”
But it took the intervention of lawyer James Orengo to assure him of massive evidence for Odinga to accept court option, of which the team played mind games with Jubilee side by dismissing the option.
New York Times was the first to publish a retraction where in its editorial; the publication claimed that they were misled by international observers following Supreme Courts decision to nullify the elections.