Opposition leader Raila Odinga has in an unexpected twist declared he will be sworn in as the People’s President on December 12.
Raila says he will be sworn-in through the People’s Assembly and shuttle all the way to State House.
“Uhuru Kenyatta is not the President of Kenya. We will not be sworn-in like [Ugandan Opposition leader Kizza] Besigye. We will be sworn-in like it was done with [Emmerson] Mnangagwa in Zimbabwe,” declared Raila on Tuesday as quoted by the Star.
“They have sworn-in Uhuru as President. We will also have a swearing-in],” he added before police stepped in and disrupted his speech at Donholm area.
He issued the statement as short while after President Uhuru Kenyatta took oath of office.
His statement today is an antithesis of what had been considered as a “rational and diplomatic” decision on Saturday when he declined to be sworn-in today as earlier planned.
In his refusal, the opposition boss had cited that by so doing, his image as a national and international leader of repute would be dented.
He also said that since he fought for the new Constitution, such a move would water down all the praises he had acquired.
However, as it is, he has changed his mind once again.
Earlier, the National Intelligence Service (NIS) had proposed that should he take presidential oath, he be arrested and charged with treason.
NIS’ proposal was adopted by the National Security Council but Raila seemed to have had toned down on the parallel swearing-in at the time.
It remains to be seen what happens next now that President Uhuru and his Deputy William Ruto have officially taken the realms of power for a second term.
Uhuru has however, reached out to Raila calling for a political truce. The latter seems disinterested in Uhuru charm offensive.