Duale Warns Raila On Staging Mock Swearing-In

Former Majority leader in the National Assembly Adan Duale has advised former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga against repeating the January 30, 2018, mock swearing-in whereby he declared himself the 'people's President' at Uhuru Park in Nairobi.

Raila at the time took an oath, declaring himself a completely different president in front of a packed crowd, a matter the government described as treason.

In a statement on Wednesday, September 7, Duale stated that Kenyans made a choice that was affirmed, validated and legitimized by Independent Institutions during the August 9 general elections.

Raila Odinga holds up a Bible as he swears himself in as the ‘people’s president’ on January 30, 2018. /PEOPLE DAILY

Under the administration of President-elect, William Ruto, Duale warned Raila that it would not entertain another mock swearing-in.

"We wish to remind him that there shall be no mock swearing in the new administration," he cautioned.

On the same matter, Duale claimed that the ceremony was paid for by outgoing President Uhuru Kenyatta paving the way for Raila to take part in it after he boycotted the repeat elections in 2017.

According to him, Raila committed an act of treason and there was no reason for him to join his government.

“In 2018, he paid Tinga who committed a treasonous act of swearing himself in to joining his government and elbowed out a constitutionally elected Deputy President. In 2022, he consorted and went to bed with the opposition leader and was resoundingly rejected by Kenyans into opposition,” he added.

The government at the time did not deploy police officers to disperse thousands of Raila's supporters who had attended the event and instead decided to shut down all media houses in what was termed as a blackout of Raila's swearing-in.

Television and newspaper executives said they had been warned they would be closed down if they covered Raila's event during a meeting with Uhuru, Ruto and other senior officials on January 29 - a day before the swearing-in.

Among those who administered the mock oath was lawyer Miguna Miguna, a former adviser of Raila. He was then deported to Canada in controversial circumstances that same year and has been trying to return to Kenya since.

Miguna through his lawyer Adrian Kamotho is now demanding senior government officials facilitate his return to the country ahead of Ruto's inauguration on Tuesday, September 13.

“As a legitimate citizen and a gallant son of Kenya, our client is entitled to and indeed desires to be present during the swearing-in of the fifth president.”

"May we have your earliest communication that all the red alerts and other unlawful restrictions that were ruthlessly imposed on our client have been lifted. May you also get back to us with a replacement of our client's passport in lieu of one that was perforated and defaced by the primitive state officials," the letter written on Wednesday stated. 

Miguna Miguna casting his vote in the diaspora. /FACEBOOK