On this day, one year ago, Raila was sworn in as the people’s president; Miguna later deported
30th January, 2019
On January 30, 2018, Raila Odinga was sworn in as the people’s president following a hotly contested presidential election that went to two rounds of voting.
Kenyans witnessed the ceremony that took place at the historic Uhuru Park Procession way, a location traditionally preserved for events of national significance since Kenya's independence.
This followed a repeat of the presidential election after the first round was nullified when the Supreme Court of Kenya ruled that the process was marred and therefore lacking credibility.
Following the repeat election, 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 should the president-elect be inaugurated.
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 in his right arm and standing between 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.
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.
