No election on October 17 until IEBC meets NASA demands - Raila

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has dismissed IEBC's decision to hold fresh polls on October 17 saying it is a date set by Jubilee.

This followed Education CS Fred Matiangi's recommendation that the election be held a week before this date to protect KCSE and KCPE candidates.

More on this: Hold poll before October 17 to protect KCPE, KCSE candidates - Matiang'i

Also read: Raila, Uhuru to face off October 17, IEBC announces

Raila said IEBC sent them a message calling for consultations only for NASA to learn the commission followed Matiang'i's proposal.

"It is Jubilee who have decided on the elections, not the IEBC. This is a big joke...we will not be pushed around by Jubilee," he said on Tuesday.

"IEBC ought to have gone through the Supreme Court verdict before setting the fresh election date."

The National Super Alliance leader addressed journalists at Wilson Airport before leaving Nairobi for a rally in Kisii.

Raila said the national examinations can be pushed to a later date.

"The exams can be pushed by two weeks. The children are not going to die. They will just go home for holidays."

He proposed October 24 or 31 but noted that this will be after IEBC meets NASA's demands.

Read: Supreme Court has given an impossible deadline for repeat election

"NO ELECTION ON OCTOBER 17"

Raila said they have written to the commission chaired by Wafula Chebukati stating clearly what their demands are.

The Opposition leader reiterated that the trust issues his coalition raised concerning the IEBC must be addressed before voting day is set.

"We are not ready to participate on October 17 without legal and constitutional guarantees. There will be no elections on October 17 until IEBC looks into our demands."

He added: "The commission as it is currently constituted should not conduct this election. The technology used by IEBC should be accessible to all the stakeholders."

Raila said they should also be allowed to openly audit the commission's ICT system before the election.

He further cited appointment of printing firm Al Ghurair, queries raised about the results transmission system and the conduct of poll officials as key areas of concern.

Raila further said the election is not a re-run between him and President Uhuru Kenyatta but an exercise for all the eight candidates who took part in the August 8 vote.

On Monday, IEBC said only Uhuru and Raila will face off in the fresh elections ordered by the Supreme Court last Friday.

"There shall be no fresh nominations in the envisaged fresh election."

Read: Raila, Uhuru to face off October 17, IEBC announces

The court nullified the presidential election results saying it was satisfied with NASA's argument that the exercise was marred by massive irregularities.

Justice David Maraga, in a decision of four out of six judges, overturned the declaration of Uhuru as the winner of the presidential poll.

They said a fresh election must be held within 60 days from the date of the petition's determination.

Read more: Raila wins as Supreme court nullifies Uhuru re-election

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