The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Raila Odinga

  • Kenyan political icon Raila Odinga dies at 80

    Kenyan political icon Raila Odinga dies at 80

    • Tinubu mourns

    Raila Odinga, Kenya’s long-time opposition leader and former prime minister, has died at the age of 80 while visiting India.

    The Devamatha Hospital in Kerala confirmed that Odinga collapsed during a morning walk yesterday and was pronounced dead shortly after.

    A central figure in Kenya’s fight for democracy, Odinga spent years in detention during the struggle for multiparty rule in the 1990s.

    Read Also: Lokpobiri, Wike, others okay Diri’s exit from PDP

    He later served as prime minister from 2008 to 2013 under a coalition government formed after post-election unrest.

    Despite five unsuccessful presidential bids, Odinga remained one of Kenya’s most influential and respected politicians, known for his resilience, reform advocacy, and role in shaping modern Kenyan politics.

    His passing leaves a major void in the nation’s political landscape and could strengthen President William Ruto’s hand as Kenya approaches the 2027 elections.

    President Bola Tinubu has extended his condolences to the government and people of Kenya over the passing of Odinga, describing him as a towering figure in African politics and a lifelong advocate of democracy and justice.

    This is as Kenyans, South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa and the United States mourned the death of the towering figure in the country’s political landscape, who ran for the presidency five times over three decades.

    Odinga died after suffering a heart attack, marking the end of an era in Kenyan politics.

    In a condolence message issued yesterday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu paid tribute to the late Odinga’s enduring contributions to Kenya’s political evolution and Africa’s democratic advancement.

    The President lauded Odinga’s courage in the face of adversity, his resilience in championing electoral reforms, and his unwavering belief in the power of the people.

    “His courage, resilience and belief in the people’s power will remain sources of inspiration for generations to come,” he said.

    Tinubu described the former prime minister as a freedom fighter and a pan-Africanist, whose legacy extended beyond his country’s borders.

    “As a statesman of international repute, Odinga embodied the spirit of pan-Africanism and was a steadfast advocate for inclusive governance and regional cooperation,” the statement read.

  • Kenyatta, opposition leader pledge to heal divisions

    Kenyatta, opposition leader pledge to heal divisions

    President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya called opposition leader Raila Odinga “his brother” on Friday and promised “we will begin a process of bringing our people together” after the 2017 contentious elections.

    Odinga told national television “it is time to resolve our differences,” as the two politicians made their first public appearance together since the Oct. 26 repeat presidential election in 2017.

    Newsmen reports that Kenyatta was sworn in for a second term in November after an extended election season which saw the Supreme Court nullify an August presidential poll and order a re-run in October, which Odinga boycotted.

    Months of acrimonious campaigning and sporadic clashes between government and opposition supporters blunted growth in Kenya, East Africa’s richest economy and a Western ally in a volatile region.

    Read Also:  Kenyatta is Kenya’s President, U.S. tells Odinga

    In January, Odinga took a symbolic presidential oath in a Nairobi park in a direct challenge to Kenyatta.

    The two men have defied calls from Kenyan civil society and religious leaders and Western diplomats to hold talks to overcome deep divisions opened up by the disputed elections.

    Secretary of State Rex Tillerson arrives in the Kenyan capital later on Friday, part of a seven-day visit to Africa as the U.S. seeks to bolster security alliances on a continent increasingly turning to China for aid and trade.

    NAN

     

  • Kenya deports lawyer over Odinga ‘swearing-in’

    Kenya deports lawyer over Odinga ‘swearing-in’

    Kenya has deported opposition supporter and lawyer, Miguna Miguna, following his role in the unofficial swearing-in of opposition leader, Raila Odinga as “the people’s president.”

    Mr. Miguna has boarded a flight to take him to Canada, where he is a citizen, the BBC reports.

    His departure came after he was charged with treason-related offences.

    Read Also: Kenyatta is Kenya’s President, U.S. tells Odinga

    Kenya’s Chief Justice, David Maraga, has criticised the government for not following court orders to release Mr. Miguna on bail.

    “Compliance with court orders is not optional, but a constitutional obligation,” Mr. Maraga said in a statement.

    The government had earlier ignored court demands to lift a suspension on Kenyan TV channels, which it took off-air ahead of the suppossed “inauguration.”

    Mr. Odinga boycotted last year’s election re-run, saying it would be rigged in favour of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

    He and his supporters consider him the rightful leader of Kenya.

  • Kenyatta is Kenya’s President, U.S. tells Odinga

    Kenyatta is Kenya’s President, U.S. tells Odinga

    The U.S. Government declared that Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta was validly elected as the president of the country in accordance with Kenya’s constitution.

    The U.S. Department of State in a statement said it was gravely concerned by Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga’s self-“inauguration” on Tuesday as Kenya’s ‘People’s President’.

    The statement issued by Ms Heather Nauert, Department Spokesperson, said: “We reject actions that undermine Kenya’s Constitution and the rule of law.

    “Uhuru Kenyatta was elected as President of the Republic of Kenya on Oct. 26, 2017 in a poll that was upheld by Kenya’s Supreme Court.

    “Grievances must be resolved through appropriate legal mechanisms”.

    The U.S. commended the restraint shown by security forces and urge them to continue to refrain from any unnecessary or excessive use of force.

    The U.S. said any arrests and prosecutions must be made in full accordance with the rule of law and demonstrate transparent due process.

    “We urge all Kenyans to reject violence and hatred. Protesters have a right to assemble peacefully, to express their views freely, and to hold opinions without interference.

    “We are also deeply concerned by the Government’s action to shut down, intimidate, and restrict the media.

    “Freedom of expression, including for members of the media, is essential to democracy and is enshrined in Kenya’s Constitution,” the statement read.

    The U.S. urged the Government and all Kenyans to respect freedom of expression and implement court orders calling for the restoration of television broadcasts.

    The U.S. further said: “We again urge Kenyan leaders and citizens to begin a national conversation to build cohesion and address long-standing issues.

    “The U. S. continues to support efforts by religious, business, and civil society leaders to begin this conversation in the near future and calls on everyone to participate in this endeavour.

    “The U. S. stands firmly with the people of Kenya; it is only Kenyans who can find a way to resolve their differences and chart the destiny of this great country”.

    NAN

  • Odinga inaugurates self as Kenyan president

    Odinga inaugurates self as Kenyan president

    Kenya’s main opposition leader, Raila Odinga, has declared himself the “people’s president” at a controversial “swearing-in” ceremony in the capital.

    Thousands of his supporters attended the event, despite a government warning that it amounted to treason.

    The BBC reports that Kenyan authorities shut down TV stations to prevent live coverage of the event.

    President Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in for a second term last November. He won an election re-run in October, but Mr. Odinga boycotted it.

    Elections were first held in August but the courts ordered a re-run, saying Mr. Kenyatta’s victory was marred by irregularities.

    Holding a Bible in his right hand at a park in Nairobi, Mr. Odinga declared that he was answering to a “higher calling to assume the office of the people’s president of the Republic of Kenya.”

    Read Also: 2,000 Kenyans march to election board office in Odinga

    “People had had enough of election rigging and the event was a step towards establishing a proper democracy in the East African state,” he told a cheering crowd.

    Speaking earlier to Kenyan broadcaster KTN, Mr. Odinga said his “swearing-in” was intended to “show the world that what we are doing is legal, constitutional and not something you can remotely describe as a coup.”

  • Kenyan opposition leader Odinga takes ‘oath of office’

    Kenyan opposition leader Odinga takes ‘oath of office’

    Kenyan opposition leader, Raila Odinga has today been sworn in as alternative president in front of thousands of supporters, three months after an election he claims was stolen from him.

    This was after the Kenyan police fired teargas to disperse thousands of opposition supporters of the Kenyan opposition leader, Raila Odinga gathered in Nairobi.

    The planned “inauguration” has raised fears of violence as police had vowed not to allow the event to go ahead. However officers kept their distance as hundreds gathered at the Uhuru park venue.

    Odinga was quoted saying he, and not President Uhuru Kenyatta, is the country’s rightful leader.

    The 72 year old claimed that three elections had been stolen from him, and has refused to accept President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election, which came after a deeply divisive 2017 polls season in which rights activists say at least 92 people were killed.

    First was an election on August 8, won by Kenyatta, which was annulled in a historic decision by the Supreme Court, which ordered a re-run on October 26.

    Read Also: 2,000 Kenyans march to election board office in Odinga

    Claiming the poll would not be fair, Odinga boycotted the second vote and Kenyatta won with 98 percent.

    Odinga postponed a previous effort to swear himself in last month, but his party insists Tuesday’s event will take place.

    Taking the oath today, Odinga said:

    “I Raila Amolo Odinga, in full realisation of the high calling, assume the office of the People’s President of the Republic of Kenya,” he said in the brief and chaotic ceremony, prompting the sea of people to erupt with joy.

    “We have accomplished our promise to Kenyans,” said Odinga before quickly departing, the packed venue emptying out in minutes.

    The ceremony followed hours of uncertainty as supporters waited in the baking sun and commentators speculated over whether the 72-year-old would actually go through with the “inauguration” that was already delayed in December.

    It came as an outrage hit on the media fraternity after government allegedly warned broadcasters not to cover the event, and pulled major television network Citizen TV off the air mid-morning.

    “President (Uhuru) Kenyatta expressly threatened to shut down and revoke the licences of any media house that would broadcast live,” the Editors’ Guild said in a statement, referring to a meeting that media bosses were summoned to last week.

    “The guild is appalled by the details of the meeting which was held under an atmosphere of intimidation for the media representatives present.”

     

  • Kenyan police killed 13 during 2017 protests

    Kenyan police killed 13 during 2017 protests

    Kenyan police killed 13 people in clashes that took place in the Mathare slums of the country’s capital after the 2017 elections, local media reported on Monday.

    The protests that took place between Aug. 9 and Aug. 13 and after the Oct. 26, 2017 vote resulted in deaths of 13 people in the slums and injuries of dozens more due to police actions.

    The original presidential election took place in the African nation on Aug. 8.

    On Aug. 11, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission declared Uhuru Kenyatta the winner with 54.27 percent of the votes.

    Read Also: I won’t vote Buhari in 2019 –Junaid Mohammed

    Raila Odinga from opposition National Super Alliance received 44.7 per cent of the votes. Odinga vowed to

    challenge the results in the Supreme Court, claiming that the voting system had been hacked.

    On Sept. 1, the Kenyan Supreme Court decided to invalidate the August presidential election, annul the

    results and hold a new vote following the opposition’s appeal.

    The Supreme Court ruled that the election was not organised in full compliance with the country’s constitution and with violations by an independent election commission.

    Given the decision, a new election was held on Oct. 26.

    The elections were accompanied by deadly protests against their execution, as well as against their results.

    NAN

  • Kenyatta vows to overcome divisions in Kenya

    Kenyatta vows to overcome divisions in Kenya

    Kenya President, Uhuru Kenyatta, has vowed to overcome divisions in East Africa’s largest economy after he was sworn in for a second term on Tuesday.

    Speaking after his inauguration in the capital Nairobi, Kenyatta said he would try to incorporate some of the opposition’s ideas “in the spirit of inclusivity.”

    Two people died when police clashed with opposition supporters in the city, the BBC reports.

    Opposition leader, Raila Odinga, announced plans to be sworn in himself as president next month.

    He boycotted last month’s repeat election and has not recognised Mr. Kenyatta’s victory.

    Mr. Kenyatta was officially re-elected with 98 per cent of the vote on October 26 but just under 39 per cent of voters turned out for the poll.

    The original election held on August 8 was annulled by the Supreme Court on grounds of irregularities.

    Read Also: ‘ Kenya Airways may be shut any moment’

     

  • Kenya presidential election re-run turnout below 35% – Commission

    Kenya presidential election re-run turnout below 35% – Commission

    Results of the presidential election re-run of Kenya started to trickle in on Friday, with early estimates of the turnout at below 35 per cent.

    With nearly all followers of opposition leader Raila Odinga heeding the veteran’s call for a boycott, Kenyatta’s victory is not in question.

    The first election, in August, was annulled by the courts because of procedural irregularities, denying Kenyatta a simple victory over his long-term political rival.

    Voting on Thursday was marred by skirmishes between police and stone-throwing opposition supporters, who prevented polling stations from opening in four pro-Odinga counties, forcing election officials to postpone the exercise by 48 hours.

    The Kenyan Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission ( IEBC ) said more than one in 10 polling stations failed to open.

    IEBC chairman, Wafula Chebukati, Tweeted overnight that 6.55 million ballots had been cast – just 34.5 per cent of registered voters.

    By contrast, turnout in the August election was 80 per cent.

    The outcome is being closely watched across East Africa, which relies on Kenya as a trade and logistics hub, and in the West, which considers Nairobi a bulwark against Islamist militancy in Somalia and conflict in South  Sudan and Burundi.

    In the western city of Kisumu, police used tear gas and fired live rounds over the heads of stone-throwing youths.

    A nurse said gunfire killed one protester and wounded three.

    In Homa Bay county next door, police said they shot dead one protester and injured another.

    There were similar scenes in Kibera and Mathare, two volatile Nairobi slums.

    At least one person was shot in the leg, a Red Cross official said, and a church was fire-bombed.

    Around 50 people have been killed, mostly by security forces, since the original Aug. 8 vote, raising fears of sustained violence only a decade after 1,200 people were killed in serious ethnic fighting triggered by another disputed vote.

    Legal challenges to the re-run are expected. If they fail to provide a clear path out of the crisis, including an order for another re-run, many Kenyans are fearing protracted political stalemate between the Uhuru Kenyatta and Odinga camps.

    “Unless the courts annul the election, Kenyatta will move forward without a clear mandate and Odinga will pursue a protest strategy whose chances of success in the circumstances are not very high,” said International Crisis Group analyst Murithi Mutiga.

    NAN

  • 2,000 Kenyans march to election board office in Odinga

    2,000 Kenyans march to election board office in Odinga

    Around 2,000 Kenyans marched towards the election board offices in the city of Kisumu on Tuesday, witnesses said, responding to a call from opposition leader Raila Odinga for protests against an imminent election.

    Odinga is boycotting Thursday’s repeat presidential ballot.

    He says the contest, against incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta, will not be free and fair because the election board has not made sufficient reforms, and has called on his supporters to ensure it does not take place.

    “All we know is that there will be no elections. As to how this will be done, we are waiting for the big announcement by Baba (Odinga) tomorrow,” said one demonstrator, market trader James Ouma.

    The government and the election board have said the vote will go ahead irrespective of whether Odinga contests.

    Kenyatta officially won their first head-to-head on Aug. 8 by 1.4 million votes, but the Supreme Court annulled that vote on Sept. 1 over procedural irregularities.

    The ensuing political stand-off has blunted growth in East Africa’s richest economy, and the risk of confrontations has raised security fears in a nation valued for its stability and relative freedom in a region roiled by conflict.

    The protesters in Kisumu, an Odinga stronghold, waved branches and blew whistles as they marched.

    After the Supreme Court ruling, Odinga’s team presented a list of demands to the election board.

    Some have been met, opposition monitors will now have access to the board’s computers as results come in, a key official has gone on an extended holiday, and results will not be transmitted without a copy of a paper form from tallying centres.

    The board said it was impossible to meet other demands, such as changing the technology provider – in the short time frame allotted for new elections.

    The Kenyan constitution said fresh elections must be held within 60 days of nullified ones.

    NAN