Uhuru's Show of Might After Raila Odinga's Swearing-in

by Miriam Musyoki on Tuesday, 21 August 2018 - 7:30 pm

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday arrived back in the country to a specially mounted reception fit for the Commander-in-Chief on a day when National Super Alliance (NASA) leader Raila Odinga was sworn in as the people's President.

In what has since been termed as a show of might, President Kenyatta was received at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) by the Kenya Airforce, military leaders and a myriad of top government officials.

Decked in his official uniform, Chief of Defence Forces General Samson Mwathethe accompanied the President in inspecting a guard of honour prepared by a battalion of soldiers from the Kenya Airforce.

President Kenyatta had travelled to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with First Lady Margaret Kenyatta to attend the 30th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly of Heads of State.

[caption caption="President Kenyatta received at JKIA after Addis Ababa trip on January 30"][/caption]

Deputy President William Ruto was present to receive Kenyatta along with Chief of Staff Joseph Kinyua, Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko, Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, ICT CS Joe Mucheru, Foreign Affairs CS nominee Monica Juma, Interior PS Karanja Kibicho, National Assembly Leader of the Majority Aden Duale, Cabinet nominee Raphael Tuju, Inspector General Joseph Boinnet and top military bosses.

Traditionally, President Kenyatta has been received back into the country by a thin delegation of DP Ruto, plain-clothed General Mwathethe, Dr Matiang'i and the Majority Leader.

The Opposition leader took an oath at Uhuru Park on Tuesday in a declaration that earned him the title of people's President.

The brief swearing-in ceremony elicited mixed reactions from Kenyans even as NASA co-principals Moses Wetangula, Musalia Mudavadi and Kalonzo Musyoka opted to stay away from Uhuru Park.

Mr Odinga assured the massive crowd gathered at the Park that the Wiper leader would be sworn in as the people's deputy president at a later date.

Explaining his absence, Kalonzo noted that the withdrawal of his security detail was to blame. Muadavadi and the Bungoma Senator declined to comment on skipping the ceremony, however, they released a statement concerning a failed NASA summit meeting that has since been rescheduled to Friday.