National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga has opposed the new date set by the IEBC for the repeat presidential election.
Addressing a press conference on Friday afternoon, Odinga claimed that the October 26th date announced by IEBC Chair Wafula Chebukati was set by OT-Morpho, the French firm that supplied the electronic system used to transmit results in the August elections.
According to Raila, the IEBC consulted President Uhuru Kenyatta in choosing the new election date which happens to be Uhuru's birthday.
"It also happens to be Uhuru Kenyatta's birthday so they want to give him as a birthday present," he noted.
The former Prime Minister further indicated that the NASA coalition has never been involved in any kind of consultations with the IEBC since the release of the Supreme court's full verdict on nullification of the August election.
Odinga lamented that IEBC ignored NASA's suggestion that the fresh election be held on October 24th on grounds that it would affect examinations, only to settle for the new date which is just two days away.
"The issue of election date must be agreed upon after consultations with all election stakeholders, the IEBC has not involved us in any proposals," he noted.
On Thursday, the IEBC cited the full Supreme Court decision released on Wednesday as the main reason for the review of the election date.
"There is no doubt that the judgement impacts on the election operations and in particular technology to be deployed.
"In order to ensure that the Commission is fully prepared to deliver an election that meets the standards set out by the Supreme Court. We wish to notify the public and all stakeholders that the fresh presidential election shall now be held on Thursday, 26th October 2017," the statement read in part.
Meanwhile, Odinga has maintained that the NASA coalition will not take part in the October election unless their demands are met. Some of the demands include cancellation of tenders issued to Dubai-based Al-Ghurair firm and OT-Morpho for the printing of ballot papers and supply of technology respectively.
NASA has accused the two companies of being complicit in the irregularities and illegalities committed in the nullified August polls.
The Opposition also wants about 10 IEBC officials including CEO Ezra Chiloba ejected from office and prosecuted before the next elections.
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