Opposition leader Raila Odinga has turned down a request by the US to drop his swearing-in plan on December 12.
Raila insists his “inauguration” will continue as planned.
This deals a blow to efforts by the US through its top diplomats to try and broker a truce between the opposition and the ruling coalition, Jubilee led by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
On Monday, top Africa diplomat Donald Yamamoto serving in President Donald Trump’s administration met opposition leaders among them Raila, Moses Wetangula and Musalia Mudavadi.
They held a private meeting at US Ambassador to Kenya Robert Godec’s residence.
Here, Yamamoto who was also accompanied by US National Security Council Director for Africa Jonathan Howard asked Raila to drop his swearing-in bid.
Yamamoto said Kenya’s political impasse should be resolved through mechanisms within the confines of the law.
He termed the planned “inauguration” as unconstitutional and one that was likely to plunge the country into political turmoil.
“The United States also urges opposition leaders to work within Kenya’s laws to pursue the reforms they seek and avoid extra-constitutional actions such as the proposed ‘inauguration ceremony’ on December 12,” read a statement from US Embassy in Nairobi yesterday as quoted by the Star.
“We again call for an immediate, sustained, open, and transparent national conversation involving all Kenyans to build national unity, address long-standing issues, and resolve the deep divisions that the electoral process has exacerbated.”
Yamamoto had pledged to bring in Uhuru into the negotiation table. He said the negotiations could lead to Constitutional changes which could create the Prime Minister’s position.
Some players within Kenyan political circles have argued that if the PM post is created, tribal divisions in the country will be healed.
Raila has often said the current system of governance-Presidential system has excluded some communities from power.
Yamamoto, however, warned that the US would impose sanctions on leaders who are adamant towards charting a peaceful political path in Kenya.
He also proposed formation of a government of national unity. But Raila flatly rejected this according to the Star.
In a show of defiance, NASA went ahead to write to 11 opposition governors on Wednesday asking them to provide a venue for his “swearing-in” as the People’s President.
The counties have passed NASA’s motion to form the People’s Assembly which he hopes to ride on during his swearing-in.
“Your county having passed the People’s Assembly motion, the presidential inauguration team is requesting your office to provide a venue for this high-level event in your county,” read part of the letter.
Further, through his adviser, Salim Lone, Raila responded to the US saying his “inauguration” will be within the law.
“Mr Odinga’s swearing will be lawful. It will help prevent further polarisation by giving Kenyans hope for electoral justice that was denied them, under a genuinely independent IEBC. It will also give new impetus for the People’s Assembly to guide county assemblies in urgently addressing a number of pressing economic and justice issues that will provide material benefits to our people,” he said in a statement to the press.