On this day last year Raila Odinga was 'sworn in' as people's president

On this day, one year ago, Kenya saw the ‘swearing-in’ of Opposition leader Raila Odinga as the people’s president after the hotly contested presidential election that saw the country stare at possible post-election violence.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati had declared President Uhuru Kenyatta winner of the October 26, 2017 repeat presidential election. He ganered 7,483,895 votes out of the 7,616,217 valid votes cast.

The National Super Alliance (NASA) said it would not recognise Uhuru's victory and threatened to swear in Raila Odinga as the president.

 Raila Odinga ‘swearing in’

After days of anxiety and a postponement of Raila Odinga’s swearing in on December 12, 2017, the ODM leader finally took an ‘oath’ as the people’s president.

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 on January 30, 2018.

The controversial 90-word long oath was administered by Ruaraka Member of Parliament (MP) TJ Kajwang and fiery lawyer Miguna Miguna.

 Miguna Miguna deportation

Vocal lawyer Miguna Miguna was deported aboard a KLM flight on February 6, days after administering Raila Odinga’s oath at Uhuru Park Nairobi.

The Government said that Miguna violated provisions of section 33(1) and 43(1) of the Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011.

Interior Ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka claimed Miguna lost citizenship when he acquired a Canadian passport in 1988 after his application for a Kenyan one was denied on September 12, 1987.

Justice Chacha Mwita on Friday 14/30/2018 ruled that Miguna Miguna’s birthright is not affected by him holding a Canadian passport and said his rights were violated when the State deported him.

In his ruling, Justice Chacha Mwita awarded Miguna Sh7 Million for violation of his rights adding that citizenship by birth could not be revoked.

Interior CS Fred Matiang'i and Immigration PS Gordon Kihalangwa were ordered to personally pay the money to deter such actions by 'overzealous' state officers.

Uhuru-Raila handshake

President Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga met in August (2018) at Harambee House and speaking after the meeting, the leaders stated that it was time to bury the hatchet.

Raila stated it was time to unite the nation as diversity had turned out to be a national curse.

His sentiments were echoed by President Uhuru who admitted that the country was greater than any individual.

Since then, political temperatures have gone down as the country continues to heal.

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