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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Kenya's opposition swears in Raila Odinga as 'people's president' | Kenya's opposition swears in Raila Odinga as 'people's president' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Thousands throng Nairobi park three months after boycotted poll re-elected Uhuru Kenyatta | |
| Jason Burke Africa correspondent | Jason Burke Africa correspondent |
| Tue 30 Jan 2018 14.18 GMT | Tue 30 Jan 2018 14.18 GMT |
| First published on Tue 30 Jan 2018 09.14 GMT | First published on Tue 30 Jan 2018 09.14 GMT |
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| Opposition leaders in Kenya have defied authorities to go ahead with a ceremony to swear in Raila Odinga as “president of the people” at a mass meeting in the capital, Nairobi. | |
| Many thousands of supporters thronged Uhuru Park in the centre of the city to hear Odinga, who heads the National Super Alliance (Nasa), take an oath of allegiance on the bible on Tuesday. | |
| Odinga’s symbolic challenge could lead to fresh confrontations in Kenya, three months after Uhuru Kenyatta won a new five-year term as president in a controversial rerun election. The opposition boycotted the poll, saying it was not free or fair. | |
| Government lawyers have described the opposition ceremony as treason and it was unclear if police would allow supporters to gather until hours before the meeting was due to be held. | Government lawyers have described the opposition ceremony as treason and it was unclear if police would allow supporters to gather until hours before the meeting was due to be held. |
| “We intend to hold a peaceful event, in total compliance with the constitution and the law. We wish to put the [government] on notice that we will accomplish our mission come hell or high water,” Nasa said in a statement on Monday night. | “We intend to hold a peaceful event, in total compliance with the constitution and the law. We wish to put the [government] on notice that we will accomplish our mission come hell or high water,” Nasa said in a statement on Monday night. |
| Though crowds were slow to gather, large numbers of Nasa supporters had filled the park by noon. | Though crowds were slow to gather, large numbers of Nasa supporters had filled the park by noon. |
| Authorities appear to have opted for a media blackout of the event rather than deploy police to stop or disperse the meeting. There were unconfirmed reports of scattered clashes and the use of teargas near the meeting. | |
| Television and newspaper executives said they had been warned they would be closed down if they reported on the opposition ceremony during a meeting with Kenyatta, his deputy and other senior officials on Monday. | Television and newspaper executives said they had been warned they would be closed down if they reported on the opposition ceremony during a meeting with Kenyatta, his deputy and other senior officials on Monday. |
| A number of media outlets, including the independently-owned Citizen radio and television, NTV and KTN said on Tuesday that authorities had forced them off air. KTN had been showing a live video stream from the ceremony. | A number of media outlets, including the independently-owned Citizen radio and television, NTV and KTN said on Tuesday that authorities had forced them off air. KTN had been showing a live video stream from the ceremony. |
| In a brief speech to the enthusiastic crowd, Odinga described a “high calling to assume the office of the people’s president of the Republic of Kenya” and stressed his acts were constitutional. | In a brief speech to the enthusiastic crowd, Odinga described a “high calling to assume the office of the people’s president of the Republic of Kenya” and stressed his acts were constitutional. |
| Though many in Kenya are tired of the continuing instability, the large turnout for the meeting may rejuvenate an opposition campaign that had been flagging. | |
| The turmoil in east Africa’s richest and most developed economy was triggered when Kenya’s supreme court nullified a presidential election in August over irregularities. Turnout in the rerun was only 39%, though Kenyatta won with a crushing majority. | |
| The supreme court was again asked to dismiss the result, but this time upheld Kenyatta’s victory. | The supreme court was again asked to dismiss the result, but this time upheld Kenyatta’s victory. |
| Odinga has said the October election was “fake” and earlier said a “people’s assembly” would swear him in on 12 December. That did not happen, and a new event was planned. | Odinga has said the October election was “fake” and earlier said a “people’s assembly” would swear him in on 12 December. That did not happen, and a new event was planned. |
| Kenya is more polarised and divided than at any time since more than a thousand people died in ethnic violence in 2008, observers say. | |
| Analysts at the International Crisis Group have warned that a swearing-in ceremony might prompt a tough response from Kenyatta. | |
| “Odinga and Kenyatta are playing a high-stakes game of brinkmanship. Given deep social polarisation and a history of violent clashes between protesters and police, the two leaders’ actions could result in significant bloodshed,” the International Crisis Group said. | “Odinga and Kenyatta are playing a high-stakes game of brinkmanship. Given deep social polarisation and a history of violent clashes between protesters and police, the two leaders’ actions could result in significant bloodshed,” the International Crisis Group said. |
| The former British colony has a history of disputed elections and political violence. It is a patchwork of dozens of ethnic groups where political competition for resources often exacerbates existing ill-feeling between communities. | The former British colony has a history of disputed elections and political violence. It is a patchwork of dozens of ethnic groups where political competition for resources often exacerbates existing ill-feeling between communities. |
| Odinga’s supporters, many drawn from poorer parts of Kenya, believe they have been marginalised for decades. They accuse the ruling party of stealing the election, rampant corruption, directing abuse by the security forces and neglecting vast swaths of the country, including Odinga’s heartland in the west. | Odinga’s supporters, many drawn from poorer parts of Kenya, believe they have been marginalised for decades. They accuse the ruling party of stealing the election, rampant corruption, directing abuse by the security forces and neglecting vast swaths of the country, including Odinga’s heartland in the west. |
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