The Opposition’s National Super Alliance (NASA) has maintained it will not participate in the coming elections if their demands are not met.
The leaders said they had slowed down their activities because “there is no need to campaign for an election you will not participate in”.
The leaders, who included Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and MPs Sam Atandi (Alego Usonga) and Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja) as well as former Machakos senator Johnstone Muthama, said “there is no point in participating in poll whose outcome is predetermined”.
Aggressive campaign
The claimed President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto had engaged in an aggressive vote hunt because they did not get the numbers in the August 8 elections. The also accused the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) of ignoring their demands.
“We will continue pushing for changes. We want the election to be free, fair, transparent, credible and verifiable. If our demands are not met, we will not participate,” said Mr Oparanya.
They dismissed the Jubilee Party leaders’ trips to NASA strongholds, saying this would not change anything. They also dismissed Opposition leaders defecting to Jubilee, saying they were rejected by voters long ago and were unlikely to add value to Jubilee.
They said NASA leader Raila Odinga’s former allies had only joined to Jubilee to get handouts and try to remain relevant.
Many Raila allies, including former governor Moses Akaranga and his Bomet counterpart Isaac Ruto, have joined Jubilee. Others are former Budalang’i MP Ababu Namwamba who lost to Raphael Wanjala and former Funyula MP Paul Otuoma who lost to Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong.
“Jubilee’s current efforts are too little too late. In a free, fair and credible election, Jubilee stands no chance. Money has never been the key driver for positive change. We remain focused on our objective to reclaim the country from the shackles of reactionary forces,” said Mr Wandayi.
Mr Atandi said the Jubilee victory in the last election was stage-managed.
Many trips
“The many trips Uhuru and Ruto have been making around the country shows they did not win in August,” he said.
But National Assembly Leader of Majority Aden Duale said the inroads they were making in NASA zones had paid off and challenged the Opposition to a contest on October 26.
“The only way to measure the strength of a political party is through an election. They are saying the same things they said before the August 8 elections and now they don’t have a single MP in Kisii. I dare them to participate in the coming elections,” said Mr Duale.
“Preparations for the election are in top gear. If Raila does not want to participate, then let him write to IEBC so Kenyans can decide what next. You cannot say you will participate and then change your mind mid way.”
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