I Did Not Tell Supporters to Protest During Thursday's Elections, Raila Tells BBC

Opposition leader Raila Odinga has denied ever instructing his supporters to stage countrywide demonstrations during Thursday repeat presidential election.

Speaking in an interview with BBC on Tuesday, the former Prime Minister said he asked his followers to stay at home during the voting.

“We have not told people to demonstrate on polling day, we have not said that at all. We have told people to stay at home,” Odinga said in the interview.

Last week, Raila was quoted telling his supporters at the historic Kamukunji grounds in Nairobi to protest on October 26th, saying their “No reforms, No election” campaign would henceforth change to “No election on October 26th.”

On Sunday, Odinga asked supporters to resume their anti-IEBC demonstrations on Tuesday( today) and Wednesday.

Speaking in the interview, Raila accused Jubilee of pushing for the election to be conducted, regardless whether its credible or not.

“There are two forces here: Those who want to go on with the sham election, irrespective of the consequences, and those who say no, it is not right to do it,”.

He further accused Jubilee of intimidating a section of Kenyans, making reference to groups linked to the ruling party walking around in military fatigue.

“Jubilee supporters are running around with military fatigue. They are trying to militarise politics in our country. You find even women politicians wearing the military jungle fatigues, basically intimidating the electorate,” he said.