Clashes break out as Kenyatta inauguration begins

28th November 2017 By: African News Agency

Clashes break out as Kenyatta inauguration begins

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta
Photo by: Reuters

Clashes have broken out between opposition supporters of Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga and police as President Uhuru Kenyatta prepares to be sworn in for his second term of office on Tuesday, Kenya’s East African reports.

Odinga’s National Super Alliance (Nasa) party warned on Monday that it planned to go ahead with a memorial service to commemorate and pray for the families of those killed by the police and what Odinaga described as government hired thugs, during previous election-related political violence.

The police warned that Tuesday’s memorial service had no permission to proceed. In response a lawyer for Nasa stated that no such permission was required.

Police in full riot gear attempted to stop the prayer memorial from going ahead, firing teargas and, according to witnesses, beating up whoever crossed their path.

The police are also attempted to seal off the Jacaranda grounds in Embakasi, Nairobi, as groups of youths descended on the memorial site.

Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of people poured into Nairobi’s Kasarani Sports Stadium to watch Kenyatta being sworn in for his second and final five-year term.

Kenyatta, accompanied by his deputy William Ruto, were expected at the 60 000-seater stadium later to take the oath of allegiance, and the oath of due execution of office, before signing them.