Observers have not helped Kenyans - disappointed Odinga speaks

Kenya’s main opposition candidate Raila Odinga broke his rule of not speaking till after declaration of results by telling foreign media that election observer missions have confounded the election dispute.

He told American media CNN on Thursday night that the observers “basically gave an approval to a fairly flawed process.”

“I am very disappointed with John Kerry and the other observers,” he added.

These comments follow statements from all the nine election observers in the country including the Carter Centre led by former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry describing the elections as free, fair and transparent.

All the observers spoke with Odinga and his National Super Alliance (NASA) party to formally express their grievances to the electoral commission and seek redress from the courts if they are not satisfied with the response they get.

NASA had alleged on Tuesday that the electoral commission’s system was hacked and that the results transmitted to the IEBC that places the incumbent in the lead were fictitious.

On Thursday, they held a press conference expressing disappointment in the IEBC for not immediately investigating their claims as promised and demanded Raila Odinga be declared president.

They based their demands on data they claim were received from IEBC sources that places Odinga in the lead.

The IEBC responded later saying that it will not take directions from anyone as an independent body. The IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati also added that the only declaration they will make will be from polling station results.

He also dismissed the hacking allegation, saying their database runs on a different system from the one alleged to have been hacked.

In the interview with CNN, Odinga called on his supporters to remain calm and avoid a repeat of the 2007 violence.

He however distanced himself from the agitation in the country.

The IEBC said it will announce the results by noon local time if all the validation from the polling station results are done.

• Meet the eight candidates for Kenya’s 2017 presidential elections
• A look at Kenya’s elections history since independence in 1964
• Kenya Votes 2017: Have a look at the electoral system

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