The United States (US) has responded to National Super Alliance (NASA) candidate Raila Odinga's withdrawal from the October 26th presidential election.
A State Department official described Mr Odinga's decision as regrettable, but noted that they respected it as it is his constitutional right to pull out.
The statement read in part: "We respect the right of NASA presidential candidate Raila Odinga and deputy presidential candidate Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka to withdraw from the Kenyan election scheduled for October 26, but we regret their decision to do so."
The official also refuted claims by State House official Dennis Itumbi that the former Premier had been denied a US visa.
[caption caption="Itumbi's tweet claiming Raila had been denied a US Visa"]
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“It is our understanding that nothing prevents Raila Odinga from getting on a plane and flying to the United States,” he noted.
In an interview with Radio Jambo on Wednesday, Odinga stated: "I haven't been denied a Visa by anyone. I had been invited to give a lecture in America, but because of these election issues I would need to be out for a week, I couldn't do it. My Visa to the US is still valid for many years."
The former Prime Minister was speaking before leaving for the United Kingdom where he is set to give a lecture at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House) on the state of Kenya's democracy.
Mr Odinga announced his withdrawal from the Presidential race on Tuesday at a press briefing held at Okoa Kenya offices.
He reiterated that the opposition coalition had no faith in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) as currently constituted to conduct a free and fair election.
[caption caption="NASA leaders as they announced their withdarawal from the polls"]
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The State Department official stated that the US remained committed to the election declaring: “We remain committed to supporting a free, fair and credible election that is consistent with Kenya's Constitution, current laws and institutions."
