We'll Be Sworn-in Early Next Year, Raila Says

National Super Alliance (NASA) supremo Raila Odinga now says he will be installed as people's president early next year.

In his Christmas message sent to the media on Sunday, the opposition leader challenged Kenyans to stand up and denounce dictatorship and demand for equality among all citizens. He further noted that they will pursue secession if need be.

“As we usher in 2018, we are called upon to choose between resigning ourselves to dictatorship, to accept and move on, or to stand up for what we believe in.”

He added: “We are called upon to accept that there is political hierarchy of communities in this country, the rulers and the ruled, or to affirm our dignity as equal citizens and to invoke our inalienable human right to self-determination if we must.”

On his pending swearing-in, Odinga said:“We promise you that you can now look forward confidently to our swearing-in ceremony very early in the New Year."

“We cannot and shall not go back to dictatorship.”

On dialogue with president Kenyatta, the ODM leader said the opposition called off the inauguration set for December 12th to give room for the talks, but the head of state showed no willingness to engage them.

"As you recall, we planned to launch the People’s Assembly process with a National Convention hosted by Mombasa County on Jamhuri Day 12th of December, during which we were going to swear in the legitimate President and Deputy President of the Republic."

"We were implored to defer the ceremony as a confidence building measure towards a political dialogue with Mr Uhuru Kenyatta."