Raila Tells Off US Ambassador Meg Whitman over Comments on August 2022 Election

Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga has hit out at the US Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman over her statements on the 2022 general election.

In a letter inviting US entrepreneurs to attend the just-concluded American Chamber of Commerce Regional Business Summit in Nairobi, Whitman termed last year’s election as the freest in the country’s history. 

" It (Kenya) held the freest, fairest, and most transparent elections in the country's history this past August," read the letter.

Speaking at a burial in Gem, Siaya County on Friday, Odinga dismissed Amb. Whitman’s claims, stating that the August 9th, 2022 election did not meet the standards of a free, fair and verifiable election.

"I don't know which country she was talking about. She had just been here a few days to the election,” said Odinga.

He cited the events of August 15th, 2020, when IEBC Commissioners differed on the outcome of the presidential election, with three agreeing while four dissented.

"If this happened in the United States or Europe could that be considered democratic, will the elections be considered transparent?" he posed.

Odinga noted that it was first time in history when the opinion of three members of a commission was considered bigger than the four members who did not agree with the results announced by the Chairperson Wafula Chebukati.

He told the international community that Kenyans have a right to question what happened and to ensure that it does not reoccur 2027.

"Kenyans have a right in the light of now the information that has emerged that put to question the results announced by the minority of electoral commission and this is how democracy is built,” he said.

"Allow Kenyans to make decisions of their own. We will demand that the servers be opened to interrogate results, and ensure that all the four electoral commissioners are reinstated."