NASA flag bearer Raila Odinga has withdrawn his candidature from the October 26 repeat presidential poll.

Odinga made the announcement in a press conference held on Tuesday maintained that Nasa would not participate in the October polls if there no reforms saying it’s meaningless to participate in a pre-rigged election.

“In the interest of the people of Kenya, the region and world at large, we believe that all will be best served by (opposition grouping) NASA vacating the presidential candidature of elections slated for 26th of October, 2017,” Odinga said.

Nasa has accused the IEBC of not making changes to its personnel or the providers that were behind the bungled election.

“For over five weeks, the commission has engaged us in a ping pong game well knowing they had no intention to streamline the electoral system to accord with the constitution and electoral laws.

“This is coupled with the retention of the same service providers that were complicit in the worst electoral fraud ever witnessed in modern times including Safran/OT Morpho, Al Ghurair.”

‘Constitutional uncertainty’

Odinga’s withdrawal has thrown the country in uncharted constitutional and legal waters that could prolong the political tension that has engulfed the country since the Supreme Court nullified President Uhuru Kenyatta’s election in the August general elections.

According to Nasa, the withdrawal of Raila Odinga and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka from the repeat presidential polls scheduled for October 26th demands that IEBC cancels the elections.

“Our withdrawal from the election requires the IEBC to cancel the election and to conduct fresh nominations,” Raila said.

HIGH COURT ORDERS EKURU AUKOT TO BE INCLUDED IN POLL

A High Court ruling has ordered the electoral commission to include Thirdway Alliance presidential candidate Ekuru Aukot in the repeat presidential elections.

Justice John Mativo ruled that IEBC amends its gazette notice on the list of presidential candidates’ contesting the repeat polls by adding Mr Aukot to the list.

The high court ruling, which comes a day after Odinga’s withdrawal from the repeat presidential poll, further complicates the issue and Kenyans are waiting in anxiety to see how the courts will interpret the law.