The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has revealed what will happen in the event that National Super Alliance (NASA) presidential candidate Raila Odinga withdraws from the October 26th election.
In a Thursday interview with the BBC World Service, commissioner Roselyne Akombe noted that if Odinga was to formally notify the commission of his decision to withdraw, his name would not feature on the ballot papers.
"We wouldn't like to have a situation like that, we know from the August election that Hon. Raila has quite a following among Kenyans," she stated.
However, she divulged that the Commission had not received any official communication from the NASA candidate regarding his withdrawal fom the election.
"We've not received a formal letter from Rt. Hon Raila Odinga withdrawing from the race, as long as we have not received a letter he will remain on the ballot," she added.
[caption caption="Commissioner Akombe, Chair Chebukati and CEO Ezra Chiloba"]
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On the issue of NASA's 'Irreducible Minimums' demands, Akombe stated: "We believe that none of those irreducible minimums that they have put forward has no solution.We believe that for each of them if we do not meet them to their standards we do have options that can meet what mischief they are trying to cure from our processes."
When questioned on the proposed changes to electoral laws being fronted by Jubilee, the Commissioner noted: "Our concern is that if you have any changes that will have an impact on the electoral process then you have to incorporate that into the training and it's already too late in the day for us to be able to make those amendments to our training and procedures."
She further assured Kenyans that the electoral body was prepared for the forthcoming elections.
The Alliance had declared that there would not be an election on October 26th if their demands on electoral reforms are not met.
Protests are being held every Monday and Friday across the nation to push for the coalition's 'Irreducible Minimums' demands to be met.
[caption caption="Akombe shakes hands with President Uhuru Kenyatta after he was declared winner in the nullified August election"]
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Their biggest demand is the resignation of IEBC Chief Executive Ezra Chiloba, whom they accuse of working to rig the election in favour of Jubilee candidate Uhuru Kenyatta. They also want certain companies blacklisted from the fresh election; specifically Dubai-based printing firm Al Ghurair and Paris-based digital security company IDEMIA (formerly OT-Morpho).
