Raila Must Be President, ODM Declares

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party has trashed reports on local dailies suggesting that its leader Raila Odinga had rejected proposals to swear him in as Kenya's fifth president.

Reports on local media said that Raila turned down a plan to install him as president in a parallel ceremony to that of President Uhuru's inauguration at Moi Sports Center, Kasarani on Tuesday.

The opposition chief is said to have communicated his position on his planned swearing in at a Nasa strategy meeting held at Maazoni Lodge in Machakos on Saturday.

Former Nairobi gubernatorial aspirant Miguna Miguna, Siaya senator James Orengo, former senators Johnstone Muthama (Machakos), Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), Homa Bay Women Representative Gladys Wanga and Nasa Chief Executive Officer Norman Magaya are some of opposition leaders who were rooting for the swearing-in of Raila.

Sources at the meeting said that Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leaders cited among others international reputation and respect for constitution as the reasons why he refused to be sworn-in.

However, in a statement on Sunday, ODM director of communications, Philip Etale dismissed the reports as false and maintained that Raila will be sworn in as president.

“Forget newspaper headlines. Forget so called 'sources close to baba'. Forget Government propaganda through sections of the media. Forget any diversionary tactics by Jubilee and their agencies... the resolve by the people of Kenya is one... baba must be President,” Philip Etale, ODM Director of Communications said.