Foreign Countries Have Threatened Me with Travel Ban But I'm Not Afraid, Raila Says

National Super Alliance (Nasa) leader Raila Odinga says that foreign countries have threatened him with sanctions over his controversial swearing in ceremony set for January 30th.

Speaking in Homa Bay County on Saturday during the Nyanza region People’s Assembly forum, Odinga said he is not afraid of the sanctions, stating that he does not have to travel out of the country.

The opposition leader said he is ready to pay any price in his pursuit for electoral justice.

“I have received a flurry of calls and was told that I risk being a rebel, I was also told that I will be banned from travelling abroad. I told them that I do not have to travel outside Kenya. We will ensure that the August 8th results are respected,” he said.

He continued: “The era of military coups is over. When the incumbency captures the institutions of governance including the Legislature making it subordinate to the Executive, when it intimidates the Judiciary into submission and captures the electoral commission and controls the instruments of power including the military and the police it only means that any election becomes a ritual which the incumbency must win."

On his part, Wiper leader and Nasa co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka maintained that the time for dialogue is over and warned that the opposition and Jubilee might have to talk when the country is in crisis.

“I said that Uhuru must dialogue with Raila but nobody listened, it is now impossible to hold any discussion between now and Tuesday,” Kalonzo said while comparing the Kenyan situation with that of South Sudan and Somalia.

National Assembly Minority Leader John Mbadi faulted President Kenyatta’s decision to form the Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) position in every Ministry, stating that it is illegal and unconstitutional.

“We cannot tolerate the president’s impunity for four more years. He has created the position of Assistant Minister which is a contravention of the law,” said Mbadi.