120 MPs Endorse Raila's Inauguration as the People's President

About 120 National Super Alliance (Nasa) Members of Parliament have endorsed the swearing-in of opposition leader Raila Odinga as the people's president, set for January 30th.

The MPs have signed an affidavit recognizing Odinga as the duly elected people’s president and his inauguration to be held at the end of the month.

This means that only 34 MPs out of 154 elected under Nasa coalition in both the National Assembly and Senate have not signed the document.

MPs such as Christopher Omulele of Luanda said they will not sign the petition drafted by Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala and nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi, terming the two as “jokers” using the affidavit for political mileage.

“My leader is Raila. I don't need to swear an affidavit before some ANC members who were fighting Raila up to the last moment. In the IEBC record, I am one of the proposers for Raila to be President...I believe in Raila and I have never supported any presidential candidate even when Musalia was on the ballot,” Omulele said as quoted by the Star.

South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro has also vowed he will sign the affidavit, saying the drafters are attention-seekers.

“I haven't got details from my party leadership, I cannot be called upon by a senator of a certain party within our coalition to tell me to sign the affidavit,” Osoro told the Star on the phone.

“I will not sign because Malala cannot call upon me to sign an affidavit. It needs to be a coalition position. If Baba says I sign, I will, not Malala,” he said. Am not answerable to Malala or any other Senator or leader of my caliber.”

Part of the affidavit reads: “I recognise the Rt Hon Raila Odinga as the People's President of the Republic of Kenya, having been duly elected by the people of Kenya on August 8, 2017."