Kenyan police fired teargas on Tuesday to disperse thousands of opposition supporters gathering in central Nairobi to celebrate the planned swearing-in of opposition leader, Raila Odinga.
Odinga says he, and not President Uhuru Kenyatta, is the country’s rightful leader.
Also, two media organisations have come under the hammer of the Kenyan government over plans to cover the gathering.
Independently-owned Citizen Television and Radio stations said on Tuesday morning that authorities in Kenya forced them off the air to frustrate their plans of covering the event.
“The Communications Authority of Kenya has switched off Citizen Television and Radio in most parts of the country over the coverage of the National Super Alliance (NASA) ‘swearing-in’ plan,” the Citizen website said.
Indications emerged that crisis was looming as several hundred supporters gather in Nairobi early on Tuesday for the swearing-in opposition leader Raila Odinga as President.
Reports say a park in downtown Nairobi was parked full by supporters to witness the swearing in which authorities had warned was treasonable.
They seemed determined to “swear in as president” their leader who boycotted a re-run election in 2017.
President Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in for a second term in November after winning the repeat presidential election in October that Odinga boycotted due to doubts it would be free and fair.
Kenyatta had also been declared winner of the August election, but the Supreme Court later nullified that result, over irregularities.
Odinga said the October election was “fake” and earlier said a “people’s assembly” would swear him in on December 12.
That did not happen, and a new event was planned for Tuesday.
By 0600 GMT, about 400 people were gathered in Uhuru Park, near Nairobi’s main business district.
Though the police had said they would prohibit any illegal assemblies on Tuesday, there were no uniformed police in the park and no anti-riot officers or vehicles.
Tension was however palpable.
Opposition supporters claim Odinga won the August vote.
“The swearing in that will happen today is legitimate based on the August 8, 2017 election.
“Odinga is the one we recognise as the president and that is why we are swearing him in,” said hairdresser Benta Akinyi, 32, standing near other opposition supporters blowing horns and whistles. (Reuters/NAN)
