Kenya attorney seeks to stop Odinga swearing-in

Bloomberg

Kenyan Attorney General Githu Muigai filed a High Court petition seeking to block the opposition from swearing in Raila Odinga as the so-called people’s president.
Muigai asked the court to rule as illegal motions that were passed by 15 county assemblies backing the creation of constituent assemblies, which plan to declare Odinga as the nati-on’s leader on January 30, according to the petition filed in the capital, Nairobi.
The case has been certified as urgent and will be heard on the same date, Charles Mutinda, deputy chief state counsel at the State Law office, said by phone on Wednesday.
The opposition has called for the convening of a so-called People’s Assembly that will demand fresh elections, after rejec-
ting the outcome of an October presidential vote.
More than 120 opposition lawmakers support the National Super Alliance’s plan to have Odinga sworn in on Jan. 30, the Nairobi-based Star newspaper reported. The government has said any declaration of Odinga as president would amount to treason.
Kenya held two presidential elections last year after the Supreme Court ruled the first vote in August was flawed.
Nasa, as the Odinga-led alliance is known, boycotted the second ballot in October after the electoral commission failed to implement opposition recommendations to ensure a free and fair vote. Incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta was sworn in for a second term on November 28.