Kenyan govt declares Odinga’s opposition ‘resistance movement’ a criminal group

The government of Kenya has declared the opposition ‘National Resistance Movement’ a criminal group after it staged an inauguration ceremony swearing in its leader Raila Odinga as president.

The opposition was declared as such following a statement issued by the Interior Ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka sent to several media houses which stated that the move was a loosely organised coalition of opposition lawmakers and it had been declared illegal.

Read also: Fears of fresh violence in Kenya as protesters gather for ‘inauguration’ of Odinga

Reports say the declaration by the government led by President Uhuru Kenyatta now paves the way for potential arrests following the symbolic inauguration of Odinga.

Recent happenings in Kenya is coming three months after Odinga boycotted presidential election re-run and a month after the opposition party reportedly postponed the swearing-in of an alternative president in the person of their leader Odinga.

Reports say the decision to swear in Odinga as an alternative president comes after the opposition party failed to come to a compromise with the government of President Kenyatta who emerged winner of the last polls with 98.2% of votes in an election marred by violence and mass boycott.

 

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now