Finally the long awaited day reached. After the postponement of the ceremony from December 12, 2017 and the threats from the Government for him to be charged with treason, Raila Odinga has in the end been sworn in as Kenya’s people’s President.
Raila Odinga, the Kenyan NASA opposition party leader, took an oath for the president office on Tuesday, January 30, as earlier had been planned and announced. Mr. Odinga‘s swearing in ceremony was held at Uhuru Park and witnessed by thousands of his supporters amid cheers and jubilations.
Holding a green Bible to his right arm and sandwiched by his former aide Miguna Miguna and Siaya Senator James Orengo, Raila recited his ‘oath of office’ before thousands of NASA supporters at Uhuru Park, Nairobi.
The Government of Kenya led by the President elect Uhuru Kenyatta resorted from blocking the Uhuru Park as had earlier done and using the police, to blocking the media coverage of the ceremony as a move to stop the ceremony, but all went in vain or with little success.
According to the Western Media which had less pressure from the Government, Raila Odinga was reported swearing in as saying;
‘I Raila Amolo Odinga in full realization of the high calling to assume the office of the People’s President of the Republic of Kenya, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the people and the Republic of Kenya; that I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of Kenya, as by law established, and all other laws of the Republic as adopted by the people of Kenya; that I will protect and uphold sovereignty, integrity and dignity of the people of Kenya. So help me God,’ Mr. odinga carefully swore.
However, his deputy, Kalonzo Musyoka didn’t appear for the swearing in as had earlier informed that they would both swear in hand in hand. Mr. Odinga, the sworn in People’s President about his DP, informed that he would be sworn in at a later date as he couldn’t manage to attend the ceremony.
‘Kalonzo is still with us. He will be sworn in later due to reasons that you will be informed on a later day,’ Raila explained.
In a message posted on his Twitter account, Raila expressed his gratitude promising his supporters that the journey for liberation was on course.
Most of all I thank the good Lord, my family and all those who have undertaken this journey with us. We have arrived in Canaan; thank you for staying the course with us. Asanteni sana.
‘I wish to thank the people of Kenya for the mandate they have given us and for their steadfast confidence in us. You came from all corners of the republic to witness my inauguration and it was good to see you out in millions,’ Mr. Odinga appreciated.
Reporter: Shamilah Namuddu
