Kenya faces the threat of slipping into chaos after the opposition leader Raila Odinga, took an oath as an “alternative” popular president, the Kenya Human Rights Commission, an NGO warned.
Makau Mutua, Chairman of the NGO, told Sputnik: “I think the oath taken by Odinga will increase the country’s ungovernability and embolden his supporters because it further delegitimises [Uhuru] Kenyatta and Jubilee.
“Very dark clouds are gathering over Kenya. Only a truly inclusive dialogue on the issues by the National Super Alliance (NASA) can stave off a national catastrophe.”
On Tuesday, Odinga, former Kenyan prime minister and NASA leader, declared himself as the alternative president of Kenya as opposed to recently elected Uhuru Kenyatta at a swearing-in ceremony in Uhuru Park, Nairobi, which was declared illegal by the Kenyan government.
The Jubilee Party government banned three television stations from broadcasting the event, and after the ceremony, Kenya’s Interior Ministry declared the National Resistance Movement, an offshoot of NASA, a criminal group.
Mutua says that it is a possibility that other repressive measures from the government against NASA could follow.
“Today’s actions by the state to shut down TV transmission and fire tear gas at NASA supporters are just but only two examples of its draconian rule.
“I would not be surprised if it took other repressive measures against NASA and leaders and supporters,” Mutua said.
Odinga inaugurated himself as president as a response to the result of the presidential election held in Kenya on Aug. 8.
According to the election committee, Kenyatta won with 54.27 per cent of the vote.
His rival, Raila Odinga, received 44.74 per cent of the vote.
The election was followed by violent protests, and on Sept. 1, 2017 the Kenyan Supreme Court ruled that the election was not organised in compliance with the country’s constitution and with violations by an independent election commission.
A new election was held on Oct. 26, 2017 in which Kenyatta won with 98 per cent of the vote and with a turnout of 38.84 per cent.
Odinga refused to participate in the repeat elections.