Editor's Review

A petition has been filed to block ODM leader Raila Odinga from running for the top seat in August polls.

Thirdway Alliance Party leader Ekuru Aukot has moved to court to block ODM leader Raila Odinga from vying for the presidency in the August polls.

In his petition filed on Monday, Aukot argued that the former Prime Minister has been a lifetime public servant and hence cannot step down to run for an elective post.

According to the former presidential candidate, Parliament in 2015 enacted Act No 8 that brought about specific public offices that obligated the entitled persons to serve as public servants only.

“The Act recognizes the entitled persons and grants them both a generous retirement package and an obligation to serve as advisors to the government and the people of Kenya,” read part of Aukot’s petition.

{Ekuru Aukot. Image: Courtesy}

He asked the court to act swiftly before the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) moves to clear the former Prime Minister to vie for the top seat.

This comes even as Raila was endorsed to vie for the presidency under the Azimio La Umoja Coalition.

He was endorsed on March 12 at KICC in the presence of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The coalition has since changed its name to Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Alliance after the entry of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.

The former Prime Minister is set to face off with his political archrival, Deputy President William Ruto, who is in the Kenya Kwanza Alliance coalition.