国际英语资讯:Kenyas Odinga dismisses repeat election results

NAIROBI, Oct. 31 -- Kenya's opposition on Tuesday dismissed the repeat presidential election that handed victory to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga told a media briefing in Nairobi that if the Oct. 26 election is allowed to stand, then it will make a complete mockery of elections.

"We reject the election results as they will completely destroy public confidence in future elections. Reasonable people will not turn out to vote in elections with pre-determined outcomes," Odinga said.

Kenyans went to the polls on Oct. 26 after the Supreme Court nullified the Aug. 8 presidential polls, citing irregularities.

Odinga had withdrawn from the race, saying the election body, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), failed to initiate reforms or fire its staffers who he accused of bungling the Aug. 8 polls.

Odinga dismissed the 38.82-percent voter turnout reported by the IEBC, alleging that no more than 3.5 million Kenyans came out to vote in the repeat exercise.

"NASA is for dialogue. All political differences are resolved through dialogue," he said, while maintaining that the dialogue ought to be about having a free and fair election and not a "private arrangement" between him and the president."

The opposition leader also announced the establishment of the People's Assembly, which he said is the vehicle through which the coalition will exercise the duty of restoring democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law.

"The People's Assembly will be a broad-based forum consisting of elected leaders and the leadership of other sectors of society in particular workers, civil society, religious leaders, women, youth and economic interest groups," Odinga said.

He said the coalition will soon announce the date and program of the assembly's inaugural convention, stressing that the People's Assembly will continue to exist until a legitimate presidency is restored.

NAIROBI, Oct. 31 -- Kenya's opposition on Tuesday dismissed the repeat presidential election that handed victory to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga told a media briefing in Nairobi that if the Oct. 26 election is allowed to stand, then it will make a complete mockery of elections.

"We reject the election results as they will completely destroy public confidence in future elections. Reasonable people will not turn out to vote in elections with pre-determined outcomes," Odinga said.

Kenyans went to the polls on Oct. 26 after the Supreme Court nullified the Aug. 8 presidential polls, citing irregularities.

Odinga had withdrawn from the race, saying the election body, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), failed to initiate reforms or fire its staffers who he accused of bungling the Aug. 8 polls.

Odinga dismissed the 38.82-percent voter turnout reported by the IEBC, alleging that no more than 3.5 million Kenyans came out to vote in the repeat exercise.

"NASA is for dialogue. All political differences are resolved through dialogue," he said, while maintaining that the dialogue ought to be about having a free and fair election and not a "private arrangement" between him and the president."

The opposition leader also announced the establishment of the People's Assembly, which he said is the vehicle through which the coalition will exercise the duty of restoring democracy, constitutionalism and the rule of law.

"The People's Assembly will be a broad-based forum consisting of elected leaders and the leadership of other sectors of society in particular workers, civil society, religious leaders, women, youth and economic interest groups," Odinga said.

He said the coalition will soon announce the date and program of the assembly's inaugural convention, stressing that the People's Assembly will continue to exist until a legitimate presidency is restored.