We are aware that this will be a disappointment to Kenyans, Nasa says as it cancels planned swearing in

If you are interested in attending the planned swearing-in of opposition Chief Raila Odinga as the President of the People’s Assembly, you will have to wait longer to know the status of your invitation.

This after National Super Alliance (NASA) postponed the much anticipated controversial swearing-in of its leader Raila Odinga as the ‘people’s president’ and launch of the People’s Assembly.

The opposition outfit had earlier communicated that it would announce the venue of the function at 2PM December 10, 2017, a pronouncement that never came to be.

They would however address the media later in the evening, announcing that the December 12, 2017 function had been called off to a later date after consultation within the coalition.

“We are aware that this will be a disappointment to the people of Kenya who were eagerly waiting of this occasion. We wish to assure them that our resolve has not changed,” Nasa said in a statement.

“We wish to thank the Government and people of Mombasa County who had graciously offered to host the event. Thank you very much Mombasa…we shall be announcing the new dates of both the swearing in ceremony and the launch of the People’s Assembly as well as a more vigorous and prolonged resistance in the coming days,” the statement read in part.

The move averts a possible showdown that was looming between the opposition and the Government.

Recently, Attorney General Githu Muigai had dared Raila Odinga and his deputy Kalonzo Musyoka to proceed with their swearing-in and risk arrest and prosecution for high treason.

He maintained that such an inauguration will be unconstitutional since Kenya already had a sitting President who was rightfully sworn-in on November 28.

“The criminal law of the Republic of Kenya stipulates that this sort of process is high treason. It is high treason by the person involved and any other person facilitating that process,” said the chief legal adviser to the Government.

This is a cross section of foreign envoys, business and religious leaders engaged the opposition outfit in ditching the swearing-in for dialogue with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“The United States also urges opposition leaders to work within Kenya’s laws to pursue the reforms they seek and to avoid extra-constitutional actions such as the proposed 'inauguration ceremony' on December 12," said a statement from the US embassy in Nairobi.

"We again call for an immediate, sustained, open, and transparent national conversation involving all Kenyans to build national unity, address long-standing issues, and resolve the deep divisions that the electoral process has exacerbated,” it added.

President Uhuru Kenyatta however, on December 9 dismissed calls for any form of dialogue on electoral reforms with Nasa.

“The Opposition leaders should wait for the next campaign season for any type of dialogue and during that time the leader they will negotiate with will be Deputy President William Ruto,” Uhuru said.

Nasa has disparaged the remarks saying they are still fully on course in their pursuit for electoral justice as they vow to continue with their civic and economic resistance.

“We wish to reiterate that any national dialogue must have electoral justice on the agenda. We are not interested in sharing illegitimate dictatorial power,” Nasa said as the cancelled the planned swearing-in.