Opposition leader, Raila Odinga, holding a green bible after swearing himself in as the People's President at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on Tuesday
Nairobi Kenya
Kenya's opposition leader, Raila Odinga swore himself in as people's president at Uhuru Park in Nairobi on Tuesday. This was a direct challenge to President Uhuru Kenyatta's rule. This was a threat that he had made ever since President Kenyatta was sworn in for a second term. The opposition leader has always maintained that President Uhuru Kenyatta was not duly elected in the repeat elections held on October 26th after the Supreme Court nullified the presidential elections of August 8th amid claims of election rigging.
“I do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the people and the Republic of Kenya and that I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of Kenya as a per the law established and all other laws of the Republic as adopted by the people of Kenya,” the opposition leader said as he declared himself the people’s President.Afterwards, he held aloft a signed oath and briefly addressed the gathering.
The whole event lasted ten minutes.Soon after the ceremony, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i outlawed the National Resistance Movement (NRM).In a Gazette Notice, Dr Matiang’i declared NRM as an organised criminal group under the Prevention of Organised Crimes Act, 2010
The government had switched off the major TV stations that had broadcasted the event for a few hours.Authorities had earlier said they would put a stop to any illegal meetings but no uniformed police could be seen in the park and no anti-riot officers or vehicles were visible.
But it was a disappointment to his supporters because his co-principals from the National Super Alliance (NASA ) coalition did not show up. This included his vice presidential candidate, Kalonzo Musyoka, leading to a one-man event. This also laid bare to the divisions within the coalition.
Mr Odinga attempted to explain his vice presidents absence to his supporters by saying, "Kalonzo Musyoka is not here with us. But he is together with us on this. He will be sworn in later. You will hear more from us."
Kalonzo Musyoka, Moses Wetangula and, Musalia Mudavadi, the co-principals of the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition failed to attend. They issued a press statement reassuring the public that the coalition is united and couldn't attend due to unfortunate circumstances beyond their control.
Raila's biography on his verified Twitter page was updated to: "This is the official account of His Excellency Raila Amolo Odinga. Sworn in as the People's President on 30/1/2018."
Raila was warned a couple of times that if he was to go ahead it would amount to treasonous. The international community, led by US ambassador to Kenya, Mr Bob Godec had discouraged him to swaer himself in. Odinga himself said he was ready to die. The attorney-general, Mr Githu Muigai, had warned that Odinga could be charged with treason if the event went ahead - an offence that can carry the death penalty in Kenya.
“The swearing in of any person not lawfully declared to have won an election by the independent election and boundaries commission, and the swearing in that is not conducted by the chief justice of the Republic of Kenya is a process wholly unanticipated by the constitution and is null and void and illegal,” Muigai said.
President Uhuru Uhuru Kenyatta jetted back into the country from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he attended the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly. He arrived at 5 pm and was briefed on the events by the security organs.
President Uhuru Kenyatta jetted back into the country from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he attended the 30th Ordinary Session of the Assembly.
In my opinion this event, it signalled the end of Raila's Odinga political career. His stature has diminished. The fact that all his co-principals abandoned him showed how fractured the opposition was. His next moves are limited. Without the support of international players, the military or even his co-principals, he has a near-impossible task of assuming the office of the presidency.
This will not be a fitting end to a man who has spent decades in politics. He has endured torture and detention to fight for a cause he believed in. But, many have written his political obituary in the past only for the man to bounce back. After four stabs at the presidency, with each election having to reinvigorate and adapt to the political climate of the time, can he really come back from this? Only time will tell.