A number of publications from the United States and United Kingdom are calling on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to call off the repeat presidential election set for Thursday.
In hard-hitting editorials, the outlets have also called on the two main presidential candidates to drop their hard-line stances on the fresh poll.
On Tuesday, US-based business magazine Bloomberg in an editorial titled “Kenya’s No-win Election” advised electoral commission to ask the Supreme Court to postpone the election for 30 to 45 to allow proper preparations.
“If Kenya goes ahead with its presidential vote this week, it will be making a historic mistake – one that threatens unrest and undermines a landmark court decision affirming the importance of transparent, free and fair elections,” Bloomberg said in the editorial.
In a similar editorial on Monday, London-based Financial Times asked IEBC to call off the repeat poll to avert the re-occurrence of 2007/08 post election violence witnessed in Kenya.
“Rather than accepting that risk, Kenya’s Western allies should be defending the case for a fair procedure and pledging help. International organisations, possibly the UN, should consider offering to play a role in running the election,” the Financial Times said.
It added: “Whatever happens will require a shake-up in personnel at the IEBC, which by all accounts has been undermined by political partisanship, intimidation and other skullduggery.”
“The electoral commission should admit that it is not yet in a position to hold a new vote . . . national interest. The country will more easily endure a short period of continued uncertainty than it will the outcome of another flawed election,” it said.
On October 23rd, The Washington Post in an editorial castigated President Uhuru’s insistence that the fresh election must be held without necessary reforms.
“Polls as well as the August vote suggest that Mr Kenyatta would defeat Mr Odinga in a free and fair election. That makes the President’s insistence on going forward with the vote on Thursday, instead of delaying it and encouraging reforms by the election commission, self-defeating,” the Post said in the editorial.
“At best a nominally re-elected Mr Kenyatta will be left with a weakened domestic mandate and a lack of international credibility. Mrs Odinga, for his part, has never appeared willing to accept defeat, fair or otherwise, without a fight.”
The outlet said “Odinga’s tactics, and the government’s harsh response, risked a conflict that Kenya cannot afford.”
In an opinion of New York Review of Books titled “Who’s Cheating Kenyan Voters?” , author Helen Epstein criticized the US, arguing that it is supporting the conduction of the fresh poll for its financial interests, rather than its credibility.
“To dispel any suspicion that it is quietly intervening in Kenyan politics in a similar, if subtle, way now, the US must do all it can to ensure that Kenyans get the ‘free, fair, and credible election’ Washington says it wants,” Ms Epstein says in the October 23 piece.
Isn’t it a bit too late ?…
Isn’t it a bit too late ? are they going to refund the billions spend preparing for the making of Riala 20th liberation after SCOK announcement. Bure kabisa no ownder Trump calls them Fake news
Just because of Raila? Give…
Just because of Raila? Give Kenya a break.
These are opinions of a few…
These are opinions of a few Soros compromised editors and contributors, throwing in their last minute coordinated tantrums to try to look legitimate. No folks, the evil and mischievous scheme was and is clear to all now and elections will be conducted to finality as planned. Kenya is not your play-toy and Trump showed you why you are evil and fake.
Kenya does not go by Western…
Kenya does not go by Western publications who are using her as a playground to sell their dying papers.They are however entitled to their opinions and that’s it, they are just OPINIONS.We the thoughtful Patriots have decided enough of Raila antics of disruption. School fees, rent, food will be needed at the end of the day and Raila is not offering any of the above.
This elections need to be…
This elections need to be done on Thursday so that people can move on with their lives. There is too much tension and there is no need to extend such dangerous anxious period. Fake news
..it’s just simple logic;…
..it’s just simple logic; Kenya can endure another “short period” of uncertainty as reforms (which are for the good of all future elections) are implemented to the IEBC. But Kenya cannot endure another 2007-style chaotic situation if the public perceives the elections were flawed. It’s just logic…
..and no, I’m not a R supporter…
A small mistake can trigger…
A small mistake can trigger bloodshed in this uncertain period. IEBC can be reformed later. They removed Issack Hassan and now they do not like the current staff
Kenya must have an election…
Kenya must have an election on Thursday. Delay will nor solve any problems.
Listen here international…
Listen here international media,
Uhuru Kenyatta is forcing himself on us.
Would you stay in a marriage where you are being raped??
We say No.
We want out.
You want out? I thought you…
You want out? I thought you got OUT long time ago….. RAO is your raper…deal with him. This time you are out, the next in…..now talking as if you are in…MAKE UP YOUR DAMN MINDS…oh time barred!
HATUTAKI VIFARANGA VYA…
HATUTAKI VIFARANGA VYA COMPUTA, And if you insist going foward with your fixed election, then get ready to rule your selves in your central republic of kenya or whatever you may choose to call it. TUMECHOKA!
YES WE WANT OUT! HII NDOA…
YES WE WANT OUT! HII NDOA HAINA FEELINGS.NI VITISHO, MATUSI NA MAUAJI. TEMECHOKA.
A SUMMARY OR THE REAL TRUTH:…
A SUMMARY OR THE REAL TRUTH:-
“…author Helen Epstein criticized the US, arguing that it is supporting the conduction of the fresh poll for its financial interests, rather than its credibility…”
Fake news of the west in cohorts with the our SELLOUT opposition coming to give their opinions LAST MINUTE…EVIL!
These wakolonis should leave us alone….we learnt from 2007/8 and this time, wananchi are not fighting each other, they are only strongly siding with their candidates. Very few idiots will try a 2007/8.
Hahah……liked this one….
“..Mrs Odinga, for his part, has never appeared willing to accept defeat, fair or otherwise, without a fight.”…”
#tanotena jameni kutokea ni kutokea!
THREE ELECTIONS HAVE STOLEN…
THREE ELECTIONS HAVE STOLEN FROM ONE RAO AND THAT IS THE REASON HE HAS NOT BEEN WILLING TO ACCEPT “DEFEAT”. put yuorself in his shoes and see fare. AND THATS THE TRUTH. GOD WILLING.
What’s the hurry about…
What’s the hurry about conducting the election on October 26? The murder of Chris Msando by ???? is the root cause of the current confusion that we are witnessing in Kenya right now.
The state should have been serious about finding the people responsible for the killing of Msando just a few days before the election. The elections should have been cancelled. We saw, Ndugu Kuria standing next to his (Msando) vehicle the day that he was killed. Has be been interrogated by the special branch to tell us what he knows about Msando’s death?
Yesterday he (Kuria) alleged that Raila is working with Al-Shabaab to disrupt the election come Thursday. Where did he get this information? This is a very serious allegation that demands immediate responses from our national security! Ndugu Tobiko, where are you? Are you afraid of Kuria?
The killing of Msando was the beginning of the rigging of the election that took place on August 8, 2017. We cannot move forward in our nation with endless murders and assassinations that have not yet been resolved!
What the late historian Lord Acton said many years ago is still valid today, he said: “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.” See what power has done to Ndugu Matiang’i!
Long live the Republic of Kenya without conducting an election on Thursday, October 26, 2017. What’s the hurry?
Rao trying all by hook n…
Rao trying all by hook n crook. How would Jubilee win senate by a big majority, MPs by larger majority, MCAs by majority n lose Presidet’s seat? Common sense is not common to many.
Rao was given a second chance by the crooked supreme court that used fake unsigned returning officers papers provided to Rao defense by Akombe.
Rao developed cold feet, even given another 30-45 days he will come up with bottomless minimum demands.
Stop disrupting the economy, the school system and the country for your selfish ego. Elections will be held on the 26th. God bless Kenya.