NASA Flag bearer Raila Odinga Reveals Jubilee Threatened Judges to Rule in IEBC's Favour

National Super Alliance (NASA) flag bearer Raila Odinga has now claimed that the recent court rulings favouring the IEBC were as a result of influence by the Jubilee administration in the Judiciary.

Speaking on Monday during an interview on Radio Jambo, Raila stated that the government threatened the Judges into giving rulings against the Opposition coalition.

"Mahakama ilitishwa na Jubilee na yale maamuzi ambayo mumeona imefanyika sasa ilidhihirisha kwamba mahakama imetishwa tena (The courts were threatened by Jubilee and the recent rulings are a clear indication that courts are being intimidated)" he stated.

The NASA flag bearer added that Jubilee had engaged in "jury shopping" where they brought judges from different regions to influence the rulings in their favour.

"Ingawaje tuna mahakama hapa Nairobi, wametoa mahakama kutoka nyeri, wengine kutoka Eldoret waweze kutoa uamuzi ambao wanataka (Even though we have judges in Nairobi, they (Jubilee) have sourced for judges from their regions in Nyeri and Eldoret to influence the rulings in their favour)" Raila alleged.

The Opposition leader explained that NASA failed to make any formal complaints against the rulings because the Opposition respects the courts. He, however, urged Chief Justice Maraga to shield the courts from political influence.

Odinga also reiterated NASA's stand to go on with the 'adopt a polling station' campaign in defiance of orders issued by Acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i.

Read Also: Looming Crisis as NASA Defies Matiang'i's Order

Addressing questions raised about his friendship with Tanzanian president John Magufuli, Raila clarified that they had a family relationship but differed on political matters.

He also indicated that he had a cordial relationship with other regional leaders such as Uganda's Yoweri Museveni and Rwanda's Kaguta Museveni. 

Last week, NASA lost in two major cases against the IEBC - one on the presidential ballot papers tender and the other on use a manual back up in the elections.

The IEBC won in an appeal where it was seeking the quashing of an order to have the tender for the Presidential ballot papers started afresh. 

On Friday, the National Super Alliance (NASA) lost in a case where it was seeking to have the poll body barred from using a manual back up in the upcoming polls.