Journey to ‘Canaan’ is still on course, says Raila

Raila celebrate after Supreme Court nullifies Uhuru's win

The National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga issued a statement upholding the Supreme Court’s decision to nullify President Uhuru Kenyatta’s win. The Supreme Court ordered fresh presidential polls to be conducted within 60 days.

He assured his suppoters that the journey to ‘Canaan’ was still on course saying, “On 8th August we crossed River Jordan and went until the great wall of Jericho. Within 60 days, we will have made it to Jerusalem.”

Raila said Chief Justice David Maraga will be remembered for setting an exceptional example for all of Africa.

“A new Kenya has been born. And Kenya is once again leading Africa, as it so often does with its vibrant democracy (except at election time) and enterprise.  Our judiciary now knows that they have the power, in law and with courage, to challenge the mighty powers too many African presidents wield against the will of their people,” he added.  

The decision has set a precedence which reverberate not only across the Kenya but throughout the African continent and the rest of the world for generations to come.

The NASA leader recognized the Supreme Court’s move as a turning point that will stamp out the political impunity that reigns in Kenya as it has made it clear that no one is above the law.

NASA had moved to court two weeks ago challenging IEBC’s declaration of Uhuru Kenyatta as the winner of the August 8 presidential election after garnering 54 percent of the votes.

“We moved to the Supreme Court to lay before the world what we believed was compelling evidence of the making of a ‘computer-generated’ leadership,” said Raila Odinga.

After long days at the Supreme Court, with the whole country holding their breath during the 14-day-wait, Kenyans could finally exhale as the six-bench judge delivered its verdict on ‘Judgement Day’ (September 1).  Four judges agreed that the presidential election should be nullified while two judges dissented.

NASA honoured the two judges who dissented for their courage in standing up for their opinion, which they respect. The Alliance added that the two judges have made Kenya’s justice system stronger and steadied the march towards electoral democracy.

The Supreme Court also directed IEBC to supervise the repeat election, a move which was frowned upon by the NASA team.

“The court's proceedings in this case revealed the utter rot at the heart of our electoral commission and electoral process; it was blatant and third time in a row,” said Raila.

He further stated that, “It is now clear that the entire edifice of IEBC is rotten. Clear evidence shows that the Commission was taken over by criminals who ran the General Elections using the technology system and resulted in a computer generated leadership for the people.”

Raila insisted that the IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba and the Commission’s directors must face criminal prosecution saying they perpetrated a monumental crime against the people and they should do the right thing and resign. Somebody must take responsibility.

NASA will however continue demanding that the IEBC servers be opened. “If IEBC opened their servers there would be no need to go back to the elections as we would know the real winner,” said Raila.

NASA leader Raila Odinga also lashed out at the international observers saying they were fast to sanitize fraud and their role must be re-examined, as it is highly politicized and currently puts status quo and "stability" ahead of credible elections. It is credible elections alone which will give us peace and stability. 

He however recognised past relationships with the international countries and their role in supporting Kenya’s political scene. The US strongly supported Kenyans’ push for multiparty politics although it backtracked and quickly congratulated Mwai Kibaki on his “victory” in 2007. But thanks to the EU observers at that time, and some superlative reporting by international media, it quickly shifted course and then US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and British Cabinet Minister Lord Mark Malloch Brown travelled to Nairobi to promote the Kofi Annan led negotiation process. The US, UK EU then strongly supported the passage of the rights-oriented new Constitution. But after Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto election, our partners settled for the status quo. 

Raila however said the Supreme Court ruling, even as they welcome it, will not bring to justice those who plotted and executed the theft of votes. It will neither bring to justice those who murdered Chris Msando nor hold to account those who unleashed terror in Mathare, Kibera and Kisumu. 

Raila Odinga also lauded the NASA legal team, paying special tribute to the young boys and girls who spent countless hours poring over documents and who in the end established the ‘IEBC fraud’.

“As a country, we urgently need to discuss how we will conduct the upcoming elections. But Kenyans are ready to show Jubilee the door in 60 days,”said the NASA leader.