Time is running out and not everything is ready for the organization of the next national elections in Kenya, scheduled for August 9, 2022.
The two major coalitions that are headed by the two main candidates for the Presidency of the Republic, Raila Odinga (Azimio la Umoja, which includes the two historical rival parties, Orange Democratic Movement and Jubilee Party) and William Ruto (Kenya Kwanza, with his new UDA party and Musalia Mudavadi's ANC) have long been battling it out in the electoral campaign, while at the same time trying to bring under their umbrella other influential "vote catchers" between Mount Kenya, a fundamental watershed, the coast and the regions in between.
In the meantime, however, Odinga in an exclusive interview with the Daily Nation newspaper, expressed concern over the slow pace of organizing the IEBC electoral commission.
"One must realize that the IEBC only appointed its director general last week," Odinga said, "the same goes for his deputy and the most important heads of the various departments. So, it is too early to say whether we can have confidence in them. That's why I'm talking about a work in progress. The IEBC has yet to gain our trust and give us hope that there can be free and fair elections."
Odinga is confident that we can reach the eve of the elections in the certainty of ensuring transparent voting and in that case he will be ready for any outcome, although his grievances in three previous cases led to unmitigated post-election chaos, with incidents and bloodshed, especially in 2007.
"If the elections are free, fair, transparent and verifiable, then I don't see why anyone should not admit defeat and congratulate the winner - reiterated the ODM leader - It already happened in 1997. At that time, I admitted that we had lost the election and that we would try another time. I don't see why, if the elections are free and fair, I shouldn't congratulate the winner in the unlikely event that I lose the election."