Former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairperson Issack Hassan, on Wednesday, May 17, recalled how he desired Azimio la Umoja coalition leader Raila Odinga to win the 2013 presidential election. 

During an interview on JKLive, the former IEBC chairman praised the opposition leader's character, reminiscing how Raila's influence made him rise through the ranks in his career.

Hassan reiterated that Raila while serving as Prime Minister, ensured no interference in the nominations of the Constitution of Kenya Review Commission (CKRC) - leading to him earning his first job as commissioner. 

“I have a lot of respect for the Prime Minister and in my first job as CKRC's Commissioner, he was the chairman of the parliamentary select Committee on the Constitution. They interviewed us and I was among those selected from North Eastern Province,” Hassan indicated.

He further recalled how Raila's support catapulted him to the IEBC chair position. 

“If anyone I have respect and gratitude to, is him. I really would have wished for him to win the elections to become our president because we needed to test his presidency.”

He stated that during the 2013 elections, it was a hard time for him to announce the results, but he did it because it was the people's will.

“As the chairman of the electoral commission, I only announced the will of the people, the results of the elections. 

"That for me was a very difficult time but what can you do? That is the game, the name of the game so it was never personal,” he reiterated.

In his memoir titled 'Referee of a Dirty Ugly Game', Hassan also recalled offering Raila a cologne and a fragrance for Ida Odinga, among other gifts, to end their rivalry emanating from the 2013 elections.

At the time, IEBC's lawyer had described the opposition leader as a 'perennial loser who never accepted defeat - remarks which did not sit well with Raila. 

Hassan also extended an olive branch to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader. 

Raila lost the 2013 General Election to President (Rtd) Uhuru Kenyatta. The former Prime Minister also lost a Supreme Court petition seeking to overturn Uhuru's victory.