It Won't Be Business as Usual in 2018, Raila Tells President Kenyatta

National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga has told President Kenyatta that it will not be business as usual as we enter a new year.

In his New Year message released on Saturday, the opposition chief maintained that Nasa will not recognise Kenyatta as president, unless electoral justice is served. He said the alliance will next week unveil strategies that will pile pressure on the illegitimate Jubilee administration.

“Within the first week of the New Year, we will unveil a programme for civil disobedience, peaceful protests, non-cooperation with and resistance to an illegitimate regime in addition to People’s Assemblies."

He added: "Nasa’s position remains that until electoral justice is achieved, we will not recognise the Jubilee regime and the so-called election of Uhuru Kenyatta as President,” opposition leader Raila Odinga said on Saturday.

However, in a rejoinder, Deputy President William Ruto alleged that the opposition was planning to plunge the country into anarchy through violence and insisted that Kenya has laws that must apply to all.

“We have laws. We should not attempt to bend them to favour us. We should not discard them because we are not comfortable. We should not ask to change them because of self-interest. The future’s only promise lies in protecting these laws and enhancing them whether they favour us or not,” Mr Ruto fired back.

“Some have continued to fan the embers of violence, but Kenyans have outrightly rejected this path. Kenya has earned its respect courtesy of a difficult and even tragic past,” the DP told the Nation.

Odinga further warned Jubilee that NASA will turn to the people if it does not agree to enter into dialogue with them.

“The imperial presidency that we sought to contain is rearing its head again, interfering with and intimidating other institutions. We cannot stand by and watch as the monster rises again. Soon, it will be too late.”

“We can sit down on the negotiating table with our Jubilee opponents and discuss how to fix our electoral system, reform the Executive, protect the Judiciary, reform the security sector and strengthen devolution. We are ready for such dialogue as long as these issues are on the table. Alternatively, we take the issues to the people and let them decide without the involvement of the State,” he added.