Why didn’t Chebukati read this paragraph about Raila in speech?
Electoral commission chief Wafula Chebukati on Wednesday bypassed a section of his speech that had questioned the consequences of Raila Odinga’s withdrawal from the presidential election.
In the unread section, Mr Chebukati pondered on the wisdom of proceeding with an election and ignoring the six million Kenyans who voted for Mr Odinga in the August 8 presidential election.
“Over the past few weeks I have pondered over various issues. A leading candidate who garnered more than 6 million votes has withdrawn from the race. While it is his right, we must think beyond him and think of the 6 million Kenyans who will feel disenfranchised by this action. Do we just go on as if this withdrawal means nothing?” the section read.
Noteworthy, it was the only paragraph not read by the IEBC boss in the entire nine-page speech..
SHARP DIVISIONS
Mr Chebukati, in the speech, had also cast doubt on the possibility of holding a credible election next week in the wake of revelations of sharp divisions among IEBC commissioners and creepy presidential candidates.
He went on to compare Kenya to Zimbabwe and Burundi whose economies faltered after the main opposition candidates withdrew from the presidential elections.
“The lessons we can pick from these countries is that dismissing withdrawal of candidates with large number of voters does not improve economy, political or social situation in the country. In fact it leads to a deeper crisis.”
Mr Chebukati asked both Jubilee and opposition coalition leaders to keep off IEBC staff.
This is in Chebukati's statement but he didn't read it. Here he questions the legitimacy of the elections minus Raila. #SABCNEWS pic.twitter.com/wGhGLzURCQ
— Sarah Kimani (@sarahkimani) October 18, 2017