Kenya’s main opposition group on Sunday postponed plans to swear in its leader Raila Odinga as an alternative president therefore easing political tensions and opening a window for possible talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.
Mr Odinga and his colleagues said in a statement the decision to delay the event until a later date was reached after wide consultations but that they “remain fully on course in pursuit of electoral justice.”
“We are aware that this will be a disappointment to the people of Kenya who were eagerly waiting for this occasion,” the statement said. “We wish to assure them that our resolve has not changed. Specifically, we wish to reiterate that any national dialogue must have electoral justice on the agenda. We are not interested in sharing illegitimate dictatorial power.”
Opposition coalition NASA had planned to publicly “inaugurate” Odinga at a rally on December 12, Tuesday, Kenyan independence day a move the country’s attorney general said this week would be an act of treason.
Odinga said he doesn’t recognise Kenyatta as the country’s legitimate president, although the Supreme Court unanimously upheld Kenyatta’s victory in the October rerun vote.
The coalition said it would be announcing a new date for the swearing in ceremony and the launch of its People’s Assembly “as well as a more vigorous and prolonged resistance”.
Anger remains high among Odinga’s supporters who believe he won the August vote.
Dozens of people have been killed in clashes between the security forces and Odinga’s supporters since the August vote.
