Government Declares Wednesday a Public Holiday

The government through acting Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i has now declared Wednesday a public holiday.

This comes barely days after the government announced Thursday, the election day, a public holiday.

In a gazette notice signed by acting Interior CS Matiang’i, the government said the decision to declare Wednesday a public holiday was to allow Kenyans to have ample time to take part in the repeat presidential election set for Thursday.

“In exercise of powers conferred by section 3 of the Public Holidays Act, declares that Wednesday, the 25th October, 2017 be a public holiday to accord Kenyans the opportunity to participate in the Fresh Presidential Election,” read the gazette notice.

Jubilee Party and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) have insisted the fresh poll will proceed as planned.

However, opposition National Super Alliance (NASA) candidate Raila Odinga withdrew from the race and has maintained there will be no elections on October 26th.

While announcing his withdrawal, the former Prime Minister said that the IEBC had ignored the coalition's push for reforms before the fresh election. Raila has indicated he is not ready to reconsider his position despite calls by the foreign diplomats to re-join the race.

"I still insist that I am not going to participate in an already flawed exercise. If I do so then Jubilee will see me as a flower girl,” Odinga said at Gusii Stadium on Monday.