US based media outlet, New York Times (NYT) has retracted its view on NASA Presidential Candidate Raila Odinga after Supreme Court ruling on Friday nullifying President Uhuru Kenyatta’s election.
In an editorial it carried on September 3, the paper said it regrets being among those who were too quick to dismiss irregularities in the August 8 polls.
“The fears were real but the rush to judgment overlooked other things,” read part of the editorial on the paper.
After results were announced, NASA Presidential candidate Raila Odinga came under immense pressure from the international community.
They urged him to concede defeat but he remained adamant.
He hit out at foreign poll observers who gave the election process a clean bill of health while it was actually marred by electoral malpractices as he stated.
The NYT at this point published an editorial pointing out that what remains of Raila is to accept the results and concede since the polls were perfectly monitored and could not in any way warrant to his rigging claim.
It also urged him to rein in on his supporters to thwart instances that could rekindle post-election violence like in 2007 where 1, 300 people lost their lives.
“At 72, he might mull the idea that a display of respect for the new Constitution would be a far better legacy than another bloody spasm of violence,” said NYT.
However, after Friday’s nullification of Uhuru’s win, the paper lauded the Supreme Court ruling saying it provides vital lessons for international poll observers.
“The Supreme Court has done a major service to democracy and the rule of law, and has provided a needed lesson to international observers.”
Fresh elections were ordered by the court within 60 days. IEBC is yet to communicate when they have set a date for the fresh polls.
By Pharis Kinyua. He’s an online Journalist and an author for Jamhuri News.