Raila Pledges to Concede Defeat If He Fairly Loses August Election

Azimio La Umoja presidential flagbearer Raila Odinga says he will accept defeat if he fairly loses the August 9th election. 

Odinga, who is on a visit to the United Kingdom, told Sunday Nation that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) needs to do more to assure Kenyans of a free, fair, and credible election.

The ODM party leader expressed concerns about the last-minute recruitment of key officials in the IEBC secretariat and the commission’s preparedness to conduct the forthcoming elections.

“You need to understand that IEBC only appointed its chief executive officer last week, same to the deputy CEO and important heads of various departments. So, it is too soon to say whether or not one has confidence in it. That is why I am talking about a work in progress,” Odinga said.

“If it was already an existing situation with all the commissioners and the secretariat fully in place, then that would be a different case. But what I am saying is that the IEBC needs to cultivate confidence and give us hope that everything is going to be free and fair.”

Odinga, who is giving his fifth stab at the presidency, pledged to concede defeat and congratulate the winner “in the unlikely event that I lose”.

“If the elections are free, fair, transparent, and verifiable, then I see no reason why somebody should not concede defeat and congratulate the winner. It happened in 1997. At the time, I conceded that we had lost the election and we would try another time. I see no reason why, if elections are free and fair, I should not congratulate the winner in the unlikely event that I lose the elections,” he said.

“I have said that we want the electoral commission to help us build confidence and we have asked the commission’s chairman to open up dialogue with the stakeholders, which are political parties, as we move forward. This way, stakeholders can audit every aspect of this electoral process.”

He spoke days after Deputy President William Ruto, who is eyeing the presidency under the UDA party, challenged him to publicly declare that he will accept the outcome of the election.