How Raila Pleaded With Chebukati Before Declaring Ruto as Winner

Raila and Chebukati
ODM Party Leader Raia Odinga (left) and IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati (right) during a past event.
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Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition leader Raila Odinga on Wednesday, December 7, revealed how his victory was allegedly denied.

While declaring an all-out-war against President William Ruto’s administration, Raila shed light on the circumstances that led to his loss.

The former Prime Minister recounted that on Monday night, August 15, 2022, he was called by Independence Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati to discuss the results he was going to announce.

"What happened at Bomas of Kenya was pure comedy, and not an electoral process," Raila asserted.

A collage of police quelling riots at Bomas of Kenya in August 2022 (left) and IEBC chairperson, Wafula Chebukati (right)
A collage of police quelling riots at Bomas of Kenya in August 2022 (left) and IEBC chairperson, Wafula Chebukati (right)
Kenyans.co.ke

According to Raila, he asked to know the details of the discussion, including the results, but Chebukati refused to reveal the results ahead of time.

"Initially, Chebukati told us that he was tired, and retired to bed. He went at 12am then returned at 9pm,"

"At the time, other commissioners were counting the votes as Chebukati slept. Only for him to come back later and discard everything that was going on, claiming that he had the real results," Raila claimed.

Raila noted that Chebukati refused to listen to other commissioners collating data throughout the night.

The Azimio La Umoja Leader claimed that Chebukati came from his home with pre-determined results, which he eventually announced to the country.

"We asked him where he got the results from but he summarily ignored us without giving any audience to us," lamented Raila.

Raila told his supporters at Kamkunji that Chebukati's only answer was, "my assistant has counted the votes, and I believe they are accurate."

Raila then pleaded for a meeting with Chebukati before announcing the results, but his pleas fell on deaf ears.

He was shocked by what Chebukati did, so he offered to travel to see him personally.

IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati releasing the presidential election results at Bomas of Kenya on August 15, 2022
IEBC Chairman Wafula Chebukati releasing the presidential election results at Bomas of Kenya on August 15, 2022
Kenyans.co.ke

Raila noted that the IEBC chair also disregarded other commissioners' requests to have resulted from the remaining 27 constituencies be included in the final tally.

"Chebukati refused to listen to his colleagues who pleaded with him to ensure that everything was transparent," Raila recounted.

The ODM Party Leader told Kenyans that Chebukati refused to listen to anyone and finally announced results collated by his personal assistant instead of the commission.

Raila had on Monday, December 5, promised to outline how his victory was stolen from him by the people he termed as "crooks".

While speaking when he campaigned for Jubilee Party’s Utawala ward rep candidate Patrick Karani at Fagilia grounds in Embakasi East, Raila told his supporters to prepare for an epic battle with Ruto’s government.

At Kamkunji Grounds, Azimio La Umoja placed nine demands to President William Ruto and declared that the coalition will continue to put pressure on the Kenya Kwanza government.

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