NASA leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday addressed his supporters at Uhuru Park in Nairobi and made his ‘big announcement’ regarding the repeat presidential election scheduled for Thursday, October 26.
Raila Odinga also urged NASA supporters to stay home on October 26 as there will be no demonstrations.
“Do not participate in any way in the sham election. Convince your friends, neighbours and everyone else not to participate. Instead, we advise Kenyans who value democracy and justice hold vigil and prayers away from polling stations,” said Raila Odinga.
On October 10, 2017, the NASA presidential candidate announced that he had withdrawn from the fresh presidential poll and his name should not be on ballot.
Raila said NASA had withdrawn from the election because:
The Alliance leaders have been campaigning against the October 26 poll date urging supporters to boycott the repeat presidential election claiming IEBC as constituted is incapable of delivering credible elections.
NASA supporters have been holding nationwide demonstrations since Wednesday October 11, the clarion call being ‘No Reform, No Election’.
State House is however adamant that the elections will take place and police have been deployed to ensure the election is not disrupted. This includes recruits from all the police training colleges and several officers recently withdrawn from VIP protection services.
"Whether you vote tomorrow (Thursday) or not, we are all brothers and sisters. Kenya should remain peaceful and united even after the election," President Uhuru Kenyatta when he addressed the nation on Wednesday evening.