Presidential runner-up Raila Odinga, whose Azimio La Umjoa coalition alleged vote-rigging in Monday’s result, is speaking publicly for the first time since his defeat.
Addressing the nation from Azimio’s media HQ in Nairobi, he says:
“Millions of Kenyans turned out in large numbers in an attempt to choose their leaders… But yesterday our budding democracy suffered a major setback.
“Kenya faces a grave legal and political crisis as a result of the actions of Wafula Chebukati, the IEBC (election commission) chairman.
“What we saw yesterday was a travesty and a blatant disregard for the constitution and the laws of Kenya.”
“The figures announced by Mr Chebukati are null and void, and must be quashed by a court of law.
He also says:
“Unless a unanimous decision is reached on any matter, the commission will be made by a majority of the members present”, he says quoting from legislation, suggesting that the four out of seven dissenting electoral commissioners should have had their objections upheld.
“For avoidance of doubt, I want to repeat: We totally and without reservations reject the presidential results announced yesterday by [electoral commission chairman] Mr Chebukati,” Mr Odinga says.
He also accuses the electoral chairman of bullying election counters who disagreed with him.
Commentators now expect a petition to be filed at Kenya’s Supreme Court, following Raila Odinga’s public rejection of the presidential result.
They have until Monday to file a petition- seven days after the election.
