Raila claims IEBC denied him Victory

Residents of Changamwe constituency acknowledge greetings from Prime Minister Raila Odinga (atop his car) before he addressed them at Kwa Hola on his way to Mombasa on March 18, 2013. Photo / Gideon Maundu            

Prime Minister Raila Odinga has said his CORD alliance has irrevocable evidence to show that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission IEBC stole the March 4 polls for Uhuru Kenyatta. And for the first time since the poll results were announced Raila claimed he garnered 5.7 million votes against his main rival Mr Uhuru Kenyatta’s 4.5 million but the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) denied him victory.

“Uhuru got 4.5 million votes while I garnered 5.7 million votes. What you saw being remitted from Bomas were dramatized results. You are going to know what IEBC did,” he told the cheering crowds.

He promised his supporters the alleged damning evidence would soon play out in the Supreme Court and Kenyans would be shocked. Raila who embarked on roadside rallies at the coastal city told his supporters that he won the March 4 presidential election and added that CORD’s lawyers will demonstrate in the Supreme Court that besides many forms of malpractices IEBC illegally added about 1.7 million votes to inflate Uhuru’s count and deny him victory.

He told thousands of supporters who jammed the Moi International Airport in Mombasa that their vote will be vindicated when CORD unleashes the full scope of malpractices he said were committed to defeat the will of the democratic majority. And as Raila landed in Coast, his rivals President Elect Uhuru and his deputy elect William Ruto retreated to a luxurious Resort at the Al Manara in Kwale County to take stock of their alleged win.

Ruto joined Uhuru who has been at the coast since Saturday after he landed at the Ukunda airstrip where he was received by Coast PC Samuel kilele, Kwale County Commissioner Evans Achoki, Msambweni OCPD Jack Ekakoro among others. At the Ukunda Airstrip security personnel who came to secure Ruto’s entry outnumbered journalists and members of the public who had turned up to cheer and welcome him.

Ruto touched down at exactly 1:06pm aboard a Kenya Police 5Y-GSU jet and declined to talk to the media that had been waiting at the airstrip terming his visit as private. Raila and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party received the majority of votes from Coast province on March 4. Out of 27 contested parliamentary seats in the province CORD captured 18 including all the six positions in Mombasa County.

CORD elected leaders welcomed the PM at the airport and Raila later addressed them at a hotel in Mombasa. Raila claimed Uhuru was imposing himself on the people saying there was sufficient evidence to justify his claims.

“I have told Uhuru his father ruled this country but he cannot impose himself on the people. I have told him I cannot also force myself on the people,” Raila said.

Raila said a lot of dirt schemes would be exposed in court during the petition and asked his supporters to fully back it. “Last time, the presidential election was bungled and we resorted to the streets. This time round we have gone to court. I can assure you the court will hand us justice,” Raila said.

He was on the “Democracy on Trial” campaign of Mombasa city with elected leaders and hundreds of supporters in tow. The team wore white T shirts bearing the message “I support the petition. Democracy on Trial”. Raila arrived aboard a charted aircraft at around 2pm. Coast PC Samuel Kilele was nowhere to receive the PM. Instead he was miles away receiving Vice President elect William Ruto at the Ukunda Airstrip. Raila was accompanied by Cabinet ministers Wycliffe Oparanya and Ababu Namwamba, Machakos senator-elect Johnstone Muthama and Mbita MP-elect Millie Odhiambo among others. Raila dressed casually and there was no red carpet laid for him.

He was received by Mombasa governor-elect Hassan Ali Joho, Mombasa senator-elect Hassan Omar Sarai, Kwale senator-elect Boy Juma Boy and several MPs-elect from the coastal counties. His convoy snaked to the north coast for a meeting with local leaders prompting a heavy traffic jam. The PM said he was in Coast to thank his supporters who voted for him overwhelmingly in the last polls and to call for calm as the petition at the Supreme Court got underway.

“I have come to thank you for voting for me and tell you your vote was not wasted. I know I won fairly and my competitors know I defeated them,” Raila said.

Courtesy: Standard Digital