Government Breaks its Silence on Threats by NASA to Swear-in Raila as President

The government has reacted to threats by National Super Alliance (NASA) to hold a parallel ceremony to swear-in Raila Odinga as President next Tuesday.

Addressing a press briefing at Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) on Thursday, government Spokesman Eric Kiraithe said the state is not bothered since swearing tRaila would not even make him a Member of County Assembly.

“The question of a person congregating his friends to swear him in is not an issue and has no legal concern,” Kiraithe said.

“And if they held it somewhere without interfering with the rights of other people, then the government would not even be concerned.”

He continued: “Placing wave after wave of deceptive propaganda on the toiling shoulders of your supporters is not leadership and declaring yourself a people’s president does not even make you a MCA. It just makes you and your followers criminals.”

Kiarithe further noted that Kenyans had chosen their leaders in all political offices, noting that no office is vacant for any stranger to occupy.

“Today, Kenyans know their MCAs, MP, woman rep, senator, governor and on November 20, the Supreme Court confirmed the election of President Uhuru Kenyatta as the president-elect of the republic,” he said.

However, Kiraithe cautioned the opposition that the government would respond firmly to any plans to cause disorder in the country.

“Every meeting called in furtherance of an unlawful purpose is by law unlawful assembly. Any person attending such unlawful assembly should expect the full force of the law to be applied against them,” he said.

He further dismisses the formation of People’s Assembly by the opposition, noting the creation of such forums lacks legal backing. He said Ward Representatives passing motions to form the assemblies should be charged for misusing public resources to discuss private affairs.

“The Constitution is the basic and fundamental law of any State. It sets out how States will be organised, how powers and authority will be exercised and defines the relationship between different political units and citizens,” he said.

“The people of Kenya were availed every possible opportunity to freely and meaningfully generate, debate and vote for this constitution. It is the law of the land meaning that every state organ including the executive, judiciary, legislature, county governments, citizens and corporate persons have a mandatory responsibility to strictly comply.”