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| Kenya's Raila Odinga quits election re-run | Kenya's Raila Odinga quits election re-run |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has pulled out of October's election re-run. | Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga has pulled out of October's election re-run. |
| Mr Odinga said his withdrawal would give the electoral commission enough time to introduce reforms that will help deliver a more credible election. | Mr Odinga said his withdrawal would give the electoral commission enough time to introduce reforms that will help deliver a more credible election. |
| The Supreme Court annulled the result of the original 8 August poll, which saw Uhuru Kenyatta declared winner, after finding irregularities. | The Supreme Court annulled the result of the original 8 August poll, which saw Uhuru Kenyatta declared winner, after finding irregularities. |
| But Mr Kenyatta says he is ready to proceed with the new vote as planned. | But Mr Kenyatta says he is ready to proceed with the new vote as planned. |
| The country's electoral commission said Mr Kenyatta had won the August vote by a margin of 1.4 million votes - or 54% of the total, compared to Mr Odinga's 44%. | The country's electoral commission said Mr Kenyatta had won the August vote by a margin of 1.4 million votes - or 54% of the total, compared to Mr Odinga's 44%. |
| The re-run was due to take place on 26 October, but Mr Odinga said on Tuesday: "We have come to the conclusion that there is no intention on the part of the IEBC [electoral commission] to undertake any changes to its operations and personnel... All indications are that the election scheduled for 26 October will be worse than the previous one." | The re-run was due to take place on 26 October, but Mr Odinga said on Tuesday: "We have come to the conclusion that there is no intention on the part of the IEBC [electoral commission] to undertake any changes to its operations and personnel... All indications are that the election scheduled for 26 October will be worse than the previous one." |
| As a result, he said, "considering the interests of the people of Kenya, the region and the world at large" it was best that he withdrew from the race. | As a result, he said, "considering the interests of the people of Kenya, the region and the world at large" it was best that he withdrew from the race. |
| Mr Odinga's coalition party believes the election will have to be cancelled as a result of his withdrawal, allowing "adequate time to undertake the reforms necessary to conduct an election that is in strict conformity with the constitution, the relevant laws and the constitution". | |
| But Mr Kenyatta, speaking at a rally in the southern town of Voi, said: "We have no problem going back to elections. We are sure we will get more votes than the last time." | But Mr Kenyatta, speaking at a rally in the southern town of Voi, said: "We have no problem going back to elections. We are sure we will get more votes than the last time." |
| He added: "We are also telling him it is the people's right to choose their leader. It is their sovereign right to choose their leader of choice." | |
| Mr Odinga's opposition coalition - the National Super Alliance (NASA) - has previously made clear its participation in the election was contingent on reforms being made. | |
| But Kenya's Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) says it has made the necessary changes. | |
| Prominent opposition senator James Orengo has called on people to protest on Wednesday, using the slogan "no reform, no elections". | |
| Unchartered territory | |
| By Dickens Olewe, BBC News | |
| The withdrawal could be a strategy for Raila Odinga to exit the political scene on his own terms. | |
| The annulment of President Uhuru Kenyatta's victory in the 8 August election was a much-needed political high for Mr Odinga. | |
| He felt vindicated for challenging the election and pushed for changes to the electoral system as a condition for his participation in the re-run. | |
| The electoral commission has rejected the changes he demanded, largely because of contractual agreements with the companies providing key services for the election. | |
| With President Kenyatta's party having won a majority of MPs in both houses of parliament, it is likely that Mr Odinga was headed for another defeat and that would be too much for a man, who has been nicknamed the enigma. | |
| The legal consequences of Mr Odinga's withdrawal are unclear. | |
| Constitutional lawyers disagree on the way forward and whether the 26 October election can still take place and if, despite his withdrawal, Mr Odinga will still be on the ballot. | |
| Although many Kenyans are jaded by the never-ending political drama, they will now have to belt-up for a drive further into unchartered territory. |