Odinga forms Peoples Assembly to protest election

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has announced the formation of “People’s assembly” after dismissing the just-concluded repeat poll as a sham.

The National Super Alliance (NASA) head said the opposition will not allow the election to stand, and assured his supporters that the assembly will work to restore democracy and rule of law.

“We will not allow megalomaniacs to destroy the dream of freedom and democracy that generations have sacrificed and worked so hard for, ” said Odinga who was speaking at the Okoa Kenya offices in Nairobi. “We will continue to assemble, demonstrate, picket and present petitions to public authority as much as we chose.”

He claimed that the announced results of 7.4 million votes for Mr. Kenyatta who was declared President-Elect on Monday were predetermined and a fabrication, adding that only 3.5 million Kenyans turned out in the polls.

“We are thankful for our supporters who heeded to our call to boycott this sham election and let Uhuru be a product of a fraud,” he said.

While acknowledging the divisions in the country after the Supreme Court ruling, Mr. Odinga pledged to ensure the country conducts “a free and credible election.”

Economic boycott

While calling an end to the current political crisis, Odinga announced that the newly formed National Resistance Movement (NRM) organ will lead Kenyans in economic boycotts, peaceful processions and picketing and other legitimate forms of protests until a legitimate presidency is restored.

“If there will be no justice for the people, let there be no peace for the government,” warned Odinga as he pledged to look into systemic government weaknesses.

While accusing the Jubilee coalition of intimidation especially in the Judiciary, Odinga said this was evident when the Supreme Court failed to achieve quorum to hear a petition challenging the repeat poll.

He further condemned violence meted on their supporters during the anti-IEBC protests terming it as unnecessary and illegal.

“The Jubilee government has sought to criminalise dissent; over 60 innocent Kenyans including children have died in the hands of those seeking to impose their will on the people,” he posed.

Odinga’s announcement comes just a day after the declaration of President Uhuru Kenyatta as the winner of the repeat presidential election which was ordered by the Supreme Court on September 1 nullifying the August 8 poll over illegalities and irregularities.