We shall not celebrate on Tuesday, we shall mourn instead- Raila says ahead of Uhuru's swearing-in

National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga announced Tuesday, November 28 as a day to mourn those people who lost their lives on November 17.

Raila set Tuesday, a day when President Uhuru is to be sworn into office for his second term. Speaking on Friday 24, Raila said he does not recognise Uhuru’s win and that for him Tuesday is a sad day.

He accused the government of using live armor and force on supporters who had turned out in large numbers to receive him from the US where he had gone to seek electoral reforms.

“It will be crazy for any government to arrange for any ceremony when the country is mourning. There should be no celebration at all,” he condemned the government for planning to celebrate.

He gave these remarks at Laico Regency Hotel where he joined NASA legislators including Principals Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula in a fundraiser for those who died. NASA leaders claimed that the deaths were due to police brutality.

NASA had earlier spared a full-page newspaper advert where it mourned the loss of 26 lives. The memorial service is set for Jacaranda in Embakasi.

Speaking at the event, Raila also asked the government to stop hurting his supporters but rather come to him. "If Raila Odinga is the problem, arrest Raila. If Raila Odinga is the problem, detain Raila. If Raila Odinga is the problem, prosecute Raila. If Raila Odinga is the problem, imprison Raila. And ultimately if Raila Odinga is the problem, shoot Raila to death then! You don't go shooting innocent people who only came to receive Raila Odinga. What have these young kids done to you? Mr. Kenyatta he who lives by the bullet dies by the bullet," he said.

Senator James Orengo who was also in attendance said the coalition has already asked the Netherlands based International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate Jubilee.

“It will be taken to ICC because these killings have been committed against people fighting for their political cause well within the law. What is interesting is that the international community represented by their envoys here are so quiet,” Mr. Orengo said.

The coalition says that at least 27 people lost their lives from shooting on Friday while police continue to deny use of live bullets.