Mudavadi tells off Raila over threats to boycott August polls
Kenya Kwanza alliance principal Musalia Mudavadi has told off Azimio One Kenya coalition presidential candidate Raila Odinga over threats to boycott August polls.
Mudavadi expresses concerns over Raila's remarks
Speaking at a rally in Isinya, Kajiado County, on Sunday, July 10, the Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader warned that such threats have the potential of causing voter apathy.
“We’ve gotten to a point of no return and we can create voter apathy if not careful. We must not allow that kind of a debate amongst us,” Mudavadi warned.
“If you boycott elections then you will start to say those in the leadership positions were not your choice.”
Mudavadi made the remarks days after the ODM party leader threatened to boycott the presidential elections should the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) fail to provide manual voter registers at polling stations on August 9.
“Manual register is a must at every polling station. It is not negotiable and we are telling the IEBC that manual registers are a must along with biometric identification of voter’s failure to which there will be no elections,” Raila said on Wednesday, July 6, 2022.
He made the statement in the wake of a back and forth between the coalition and the electoral agency over grey areas they feel the commission must address to guarantee free, fair and credible elections.
Raila, however, seems to have toned down on his threats after condemnation from the Kenya Kwanza alliance, which supports Deputy President William Ruto's presidential bid.
“We are not cowards to boycott the election. We will proceed with the election, but we are telling IEBC not to dare interfere with the election because we will not allow that to happen,” Raila said a day after his controversial remarks.
