I'm not afraid to pay the price of treason, Raila tells diplomats

National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga has condemned attempts by the diplomatic community to have talks with President Uhuru Kenyatta. His announcement comes just a few days before his planned controversial swearing-in.

Raila, who is set to assume office as the President of Kenya on December 12 during the Jamuhuri Day celebrations has said he is not willing to call off the event even as the government and envoys asking him to.

The United States government had on December 6 called upon Raila to call off his swearing-in ceremony and pursue reforms.

Chief legal adviser to the government Attorney-General Githu Muigai has also warned the Opposition leader against going ahead with the plans saying that the act will be judged as treason which fetches a death penalty.

Prof. Githu on December 7 said that the government was doing all it could to prevent the breach of the rule of law and the constitution.

"I reiterate any attempts to swear in any person as president other than the one elected in line with the constitution and in a manner provided for in the law is unlawful and illegal," he said at the State Law office in the capital Nairobi.

Siaya Senator and NASA Senior counsel James Orengo, however, reputed the AG’s remarks saying that Raila’s inauguration will be fully within the vicinity of the Kenyan constitution.

Members of a diplomatic community met Raila and NASA co-principal Musalia Mudavadi on December 8 in an attempt to coerce them into calling off the fast approaching swearing-in ceremony.


Raila, however, turned down their calls and told them he intends to go on with he plans, even if it meant he would face treason charges. He further stated that he was only willing to put the inauguration event aside if President Uhuru Kenyatta reached out to him personally.


After the meeting with the diplomats, Raila posted on his Twitter account notifying his supporters that the plans were still on. “Putting forward our position as a Coalition to members of the diplomatic community, private sector and religious leaders in our quest for electoral justice. We maintain that the will of the people is paramount,” read his tweet.

NASA later released a press statement in which they gave the schedule that will be followed on December 12.