Kenya’s Odinga laments ‘rape of democracy’ after 5th consecutive poll loss

Veteran Kenyan opposition leader, Raila Odinga, does not agree with the outcome of the just-ended presidential election having lost his fifth bid to deputy president and president-elect, William Ruto.

Even though he has yet to officially comment on the loss, a former advisor to Mr. Odinga has spoken to the BBC about how his former boss felt about the latest loss.

Salim Lone said Odinga felt as though the process was a rape of democracy.

“I just had a long conversation with him and he made it clear that he thought this was a like a rape of democracy. So, he does not find it acceptable at all.

“Our problem is that this is the fourth straight bitterly contested election and this was the worst when we thought this was finally to be the best.

“It has no credibility because four of the seven commissioners have said they did not sign on to the announcement that Mr Ruto was lawfully elected,” he added.

Whiles it is not clear whether Mr Odinga will make a legal challenge, his running-mate, Martha Karua, has said on Twitter: “it’s not over till it’s over”.

With hours to the announcement of a winner of the August 9 vote, four commissioners of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, IEBC, broke ranks with the decision to be announced Chairperson Wafula Chebukati.

After brief skirmishes, Chebukati arrived to announce the outcome of the vote as the returning officer for the presidential race.

William Ruto was elected 5th president of Kenya with 50.49% of the vote, the IEBC announced.

He won his first run for the top job, beating former prime minister Raila Odinga who ran for the fifth time. Odinga got 48.5% of the vote.