What does Raila Odinga’s withdrawal mean for Kenya’s re-run election?

Kenya’s October 26th re-run presidential election appears to be in jeopardy after news that one of the main candidates, Raila Odinga, has withdrawn from the race.

Odinga’s announcement follows weeks of protests by his supporters who believe the opposition leader unfairly lost the election. In August, Odinga petitioned the country’s Supreme Court to annul the election results, claiming ‘illegalities and irregularities’ had taken place. The court agreed and ordered a re-run. But now that Odinga is out of the race, what will happen?

Odinga has said the protests will continue until the opposition’s demands over election reforms are met. But President Uhuru Kenyatta says voting will not be delayed.

So with Kenya’s electoral commission, the president, and the opposition deadlocked … what now?

On this episode of The Stream, we speak with:

Catherine Wambua-Soi @C_SOI
Reporter, Al Jazeera

Kamotho Waiganjo @kamothowaiganjo
Constitutional Lawyer

Esther Passaris @EstherPassaris
Member, National Assembly
esthermpassaris.com

Johnson Sakaja @SakajaJohnson
Senator, Nairobi City County
iamnairobi.co.ke

Read more:

What next after Raila Odinga quit presidential vote? – Al Jazeera 
Can Raila Odinga win Kenya’s re-election? – Al Jazeera
At least 37 people were killed in eleciton violence – Al Jazeera 

What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.