Raila sworn in as ‘people’s president’

National Super Alliance leader Raila Odinga has been sworn in as the ‘people’s president’.

Mr. Odinga took the controversial oath at Uhuru Park Grounds in Nairobi on Tuesday at 2.45 pm in a ceremony skipped by his co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka, Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula.

Holding a Bible on his right hand, Mr Odinga said: “I, Raila Amolo Odinga, in full realization of the high calling assume the office of the people’s president of the Republic of Kenya, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to the People and the Republic of Kenya; that I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of Kenya, as by law established and all other laws of the Republic as adopted by the People of Kenya; that I will protect and uphold sovereignty, integrity and dignity of the people of Kenya. So help me God”.

The 90-word oath was administered by Ruaraka MP TJ Kajwang and former Nairobi gubernatorial candidate Miguna Miguna.

Thousands of NASA supporters, who had thronged the historic Uhuru Park grounds to witness the ‘swearing in’, burst into thunderous cheers after Odinga had taken the oath.

After being ‘sworn in’, Odinga issued a brief address where he thanked his supporters for turning up in large numbers for the event.

“Today is a historic day for the people of Kenya. For the first time in our history, people have gathered here in their hundreds of thousands to say enough is enough with election rigging. Today is a one stop towards doing away with electoral autocracy and to establishing proper democracy in the country,” said Odinga.

“I thank Kenyans for the courage, for the patience and fortitude you have shown the rest of the world that a people united cannot be defeated.”

Odinga explained that his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka would take his oath at a later date.