More leaders have criticised plans to swear in Opposition leader Raila Odinga on Jamhuri day.
National Committee for Implementation of Citizen Participation in Security, commonly known as ‘Nyumba Kumi’, has described plans to swear in Raila as a recipe for chaos.
The committee’s chairperson Joseph Kaguthi said statements on Raila’s swearing-in bordered on incitement.
On November 28, the day President Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in, Raila told his supporters that he would be sworn in on Jamhuri day as the people’s president.
But Mr Kaguthi says the announcement by Raila was already causing anxiety in the country.
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Addressing the press in Naivasha, Kaguthi called for sobriety, saying the electioneering period was over.
“The country has lost so many lives in the name of politics. It is time we focused on developing this nation that is bigger than any individual,” he said.
He described Raila’s swearing-in plans as treasonable.
“The country cannot have two presidents and anyone doing so can be charged with treason,” he said.
Kaguthi warned gains made under the Nyumba Kumi initiative risked being eroded due to the utterances and tension created by politicians.
“We have seen in parts of Nyanza neighbours turning against each other in the name of demonstrations and this is setting a bad precedent,” he said.
No power vacuum
Elsewhere, Energy Cabinet Secretary Charles Keter and Belgut Member of Parliament (MP) Nelson Koech have warned that the Government would not allow any attempt to swear in Raila.
Speaking at Simotwet village in Kipkelion West Constituency during the funeral service of former University student Edu Langat, Mr Keter and Mr Koech said following the swearing-in Uhuru and his deputy, William Ruto, there was no power vacuum in the office of the president.
“Those thinking they can conduct an illegal swearing-in on December 12 are deluding themselves. We want to tell them the Government is intact and will deal with them,” said Keter.
Clamp down
He said Raila had previously managed to get away with activities bordering on treason but the situation had changed after Uhuru’s swearing-in.
“President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto kept their cool before their swearing-in ceremony. We now dare the National Resistance Movement (NRM) leaders to attempt treasonable activities on Jamhuri day and we will clamp down on them,” said Keter.
Koech supported the retaining of Keter as the Energy CS in Uhuru’s new cabinet.
“Keter has performed very well and that is why we oppose any schemes to split the docket into the Ministry of Energy and the Ministry of Petroleum,” said Koech.
Keter, Koech, Bore and Londiani Ward MCA Stanley Bett asked Kericho residents to maintain peace.
