'We cannot boycott the elections,' Raila says as he cautions IEBC

'We cannot boycott the elections,' Raila says as he cautions IEBC

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance Presidential candidate Raila Odinga has dismissed claims that he will boycott the August 9 General Election if the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) fails to adopt both the manual and electronic voter register.

This comes after Odinga, during a rally in Githurai on Wednesday, insinuated that he had received reliable information linking IEBC boss Wafula Chebukati and his team to an apparent plot to print excess pre-marked ballot papers in a neighbouring country and sneak them into the country on election day, hence the electoral body's alleged reluctance to use the manual register.

Speaking in Kirinyaga County on Thursday when he took his campaigns to the region, Odinga insisted that he cannot and shall not boycott the upcoming polls, exuding confidence that he would emerge winner.

"We shall not and cannot boycott the elections. We are not cowards. But we want to tell the IEBC don't dare steal the elections... Martha and Raila will take part in the elections and we shall win," said Odinga.

According to Odinga, he only made the utterances on Wednesday to deter any unscrupulous IEBC officials with ulterior motives from influencing the results of the presidential election.

"Mtu mwingine aliandika ati nilisema sisi tutasusia, ati we shall boycott elections, siwezi boycott elections. Na boycott elections namna gani na tunashinda. Mimi nilikuwa naonya hao watu wasithubutu kujaribu kuiba. Sisi ni washindi hatuwezi kugoma maanake tunashinda mbali sana," he said.

To further drive his point home, Odinga flaunted that he has a massive following in all parts of the country noting that this sets him apart from his presidential rivals.

"Ukienda pande ya western ni Azimio tupu, pwani, nyanza, north eastern, rift valley, eastern, central na mlima pia.  Watapata kura wapi ya kutushinda? hawawezi tushinda," he said.

The Azimio chief was flanked by his running mate Martha Karua, local leaders and senior government representatives. 

 

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Raila Odinga Kirinyaga County

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