As political campaigns for the repeat October 17 polls gather momentum in Kenya, the main presidential candidates are portraying themselves as victims of corrupt institutions in a bid to win voters.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, of the Jubilee Party, is painting himself as a victim of “corrupt” judges at the Supreme Court, who annulled his win in August 8 polls.
His main rival, the National Super Alliance (Nasa) presidential candidate Raila Odinga, is portraying himself as a victim of a “corrupt” electoral system perpetuated by the poll’s body officials.
“The decision by the four Supreme Court judges to nullify my win was the most painful moment of my life. Four people cannot change what Kenyans have decided.
“I don’t and will not agree with them,” said Kenyatta on Wednesday after initially labelling the judges crooks and promising to “fix” the apex court if elected.
He expressed the sentiments at a meeting with leaders and supporters from the Abagusii tribe, from which the Chief Justice David Maraga hails, as he tried to win back the community’s support.
“It was very painful for me to accept the decision. I’m a human being and I was angry at Maraga and the Supreme Court, not the Abagusii community as Odinga would want you to believe,” said Kenyatta.
He defended his outbursts against the Supreme Court, asking his audience if it was wrong for him to come out and defend himself if he had been robbed.
“I know I won the election. Just imagine a thief is caught with your cow and then the court rules that the police did not record the crime, so the cow cannot be yours,” he said.
Meanwhile, Odinga reiterated that Nasa would not go to the polls with the current electoral commission officials, accusing them of robbing him of victory and bungling the polls.
“We will only go to an election when the playing field is level,” said Odinga on Wednesday.
“The last time the commission was partisan and the evidence we produced in court was enormous. We are not ready to engage in a farce.”
His Nasa coalition announced there would be no elections on October 17 unless those who stole their victory are sacked and punished.
“We wish to inform all Kenyans that there will be no polls if the concerns raised in our petition are not met,” said Odinga’s partner in Nasa Moses Wetangula.
“We will not only boycott the elections, but we will also not allow Jubilee to go to polls alone,” Wetangula said. – Xinhua