Kenyans in the US Split over Raila's Swearing-in

Kenyans living and working in the United States are split over the planned swearing-in of opposition leaders Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka, which is scheduled for Tuesday.

While those who back the ruling Jubilee party are opposed to the plan, those who support National Super Alliance (Nasa) have endorsed the installation of opposition leaders.

“The Kenyan community in Diaspora that demands real democracy in Kenya supports the creation of People’s Assemblies and the swearing-in of Raila Odinga who won the August 8, 2017 election. These moves will take power from corrupt cartels and place it into the people’s hands where it constitutionally belongs,” a statement issued by Nasa USA Diaspora Team reads.

In its statement however, a Jubilee diaspora group in the US states that "this clearly is a calculated move by the opposition coalition Nasa to cause chaos in the country and neither the government nor Kenyans of good will should allow it to take place. This is the reason why many of us in Diaspora oppose it and want to distance ourselves from it.”

The Jubilee US group further chides Nasa supporters in the United Kingdom, who have publicly endorsed the opposition swearing in and has even sent a delegation to attend the ceremony set for Tuesday, noting that it was wrong for them to back “an illegal move meant to divide Kenyans further.”

“As Kenyans from all the 51 [sic] US states, we wish to categorically affirm that we subscribe to the rule of law. NRM is proscribed under Kenyan laws. All its concepts and ideologies, which espouse rising up against a constitutionally established government are in contravention of the laws of Kenya,” the statement signed by Eng. John Kamau of Phoenix, Arizona. says.

Nasa supporters on the other side argue that electoral justice is key for the stability, fair, united and prosperous Kenya.

“We also believe in an open, inclusive, transformational and people-driven political dialogue that will ensure every vote counts.

“We are aware that the people voted for Raila Amollo Odinga to be president on August 8, 2017, but the corrupt cartels under Jubilee through the IEBC manipulated and altered the results to show otherwise,” says the Nasa statement issued by Barack Wekulo, Ben Kipng’etich, Salim Mngolia and Dan Ogindo in New Jersey.