Why did Raila Odinga withdraw from Kenya’s 2017 presidential election rerun?

Raila Odinga withdrew from the October 26, 2017, presidential election rerun because he believed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) had failed to implement necessary electoral reforms.12

Following the Supreme Court’s nullification of the August 8, 2017, election results due to irregularities, Odinga and his National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition presented a list of "irreducible minimums"—specific changes they demanded the IEBC make to ensure a credible process. Odinga cited his frustration with the lack of progress on these reforms as the primary reason for his withdrawal on October 10.12

By withdrawing, Odinga aimed to trigger a requirement for the IEBC to cancel the scheduled poll and hold a fresh election within 90 days, which he hoped would provide sufficient time for the commission to address the remaining concerns. Despite his withdrawal and a subsequent boycott by his supporters, the election proceeded as planned, and the results were ultimately upheld by the Supreme Court.12