NASA leader Raila Odinga in a past event. Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo has rubbished claims that NASA is afraid of the repeat presidential poll. (Photo/newsweek.com)
Makueni MP Daniel Maanzo has rubbished Jubilee party claims that NASA leader Raila Odinga wants to boycott the repeat presidential election slated for next month.
Maanzo says that Raila is not afraid of facing off with Uhuru Kenyatta as Jubilee politicians claim.
In an interview with the People Daily, Maanzo said that Raila’s push for reforms at EICB should not be translated to mean that he wants to boycott the poll.
“Raila Odinga is ready to face off with Uhuruto at any time but what he is pushing is to have a fair playing ground,” he said as quoted by People Daily.
Maanzo said that it will be useless for NASA to participate in the repeat election if the same people who allegedly bungled the August 8 poll are the people to oversee the poll.
The Wiper MP said that the demands and reforms Raila is pushing at IEBC are for the interest of Kenyans.
“Raila Odinga is doing all these for the interest of Kenyans who have for a long time been denied their deserved victory in presidential election,” he said.
Maanzo asked Jubilee to support NASA’s push for reforms at IEBC for credible repeat presidential poll.
He said that fairness, transparency and credibility in an election are the principles of democracy and must be guarded as provided for in the constitution.
NASA and Jubilee are tussling over reforms at the IEBC with the opposition pushing for an overhaul of the commission.
NASA wants IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba and some of the top officials to resign over claims that they bungled the August 8 presidential election.
NASA says that it will not participate in the repeat election unless its demands are fully addressed.
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee party has however rubbished NASA’s demands claiming that the opposition is afraid of the repeat presidential election set for next month.
IEBC is expected to meet NASA and Jubilee top leaders on Wednesday this week to iron out differences as the commission prepares for repeat poll.