Prime Minister of Kenya Raila Odinga accepted the Supreme Court verdict on the validity of President elect Uhuru Kenyatta’s win, because he did not want to appear hypocritical after promising to respect the judges’ ruling. In a BBC interview a day after conceding defeat and wishing Uhuru and his team well, Raila said even after the ruling, his coalition would fight on for democracy, “through other venues’’ which he did not specify.
He also claimed victory in the March 4 race was “predetermined and manipulated by a few technocrats,’’ and warned that if this trend continues, Kenyans will lose faith in elections and “explore other means”. Again the PM did not say what this would probably entail.
“In the fight for democracy, election is just an event,’’ he said.
He was also emphatic that he conceded defeat as a personal sacrifice to avoid the bloodshed of 2007-2008, stirred by disputed presidential elections results between himself and outgoing President Mwai Kibaki.
The PM told the BBC the developments in this month’s elections and the Supreme Court’s handling of his petition has opened afresh wounds from the scary experiences of 2007.
Asked if he thought Uhuru would present himself for crimes against humanity trials at the International Criminal Court, the PM told his interviewer that the President-elect is best placed to answer that question.
The Prime Minister was categorical the Saturday ruling failed to restore Kenyans’ confidence in elections and denied them an opportunity to know that transpired.
“The wounds have not been healed but opened by what has just happened. It is a replica of what exactly happened in 2007,” Raila said when asked if he thought the ruling had healed the wounds of the country’s saddest moment five years ago.
The PM warned the verdict left many Kenyans dejected saying the decision by the court to reject some of his evidence will lead to voter apathy and possibly Kenyans seeking for other ways to address electoral disputes.
He also claimed victory in the March 4 race was “predetermined and manipulated by a few technocrats,’’ and warned that if this trend continues, Kenyans will lose faith in elections and “explore other means”. Again the PM did not say what this would probably entail.
“In the fight for democracy, election is just an event,’’ he said.
He was also emphatic that he conceded defeat as a personal sacrifice to avoid the bloodshed of 2007-2008, stirred by disputed presidential elections results between himself and outgoing President Mwai Kibaki.
The PM told the BBC the developments in this month’s elections and the Supreme Court’s handling of his petition has opened afresh wounds from the scary experiences of 2007.
Asked if he thought Uhuru would present himself for crimes against humanity trials at the International Criminal Court, the PM told his interviewer that the President-elect is best placed to answer that question.
The Prime Minister was categorical the Saturday ruling failed to restore Kenyans’ confidence in elections and denied them an opportunity to know that transpired.
“The wounds have not been healed but opened by what has just happened. It is a replica of what exactly happened in 2007,” Raila said when asked if he thought the ruling had healed the wounds of the country’s saddest moment five years ago.
The PM warned the verdict left many Kenyans dejected saying the decision by the court to reject some of his evidence will lead to voter apathy and possibly Kenyans seeking for other ways to address electoral disputes.
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