Kenyan government silences broadcasters and bans group as Odinga takes oath

Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga of the National Super Alliance (NASA) holds a bible as he takes a symbolic presidential oath of office in Nairobi, Kenya January 30, 2018. REUTERS NAIROBI: Kenyan authorities shut television and radio stations on Tuesday as supporters of opposition leader Raila Odinga watched him take a symbolic presidential oath on the Bible in a Nairobi park in a direct challenge to President Uhuru Kenyatta. The government responded by declaring the ?National Resistance Movement? - a loose grouping led by Odinga and other opposition lawmakers - a criminal group, paving the way for potential arrests. So far, the movement?s major achievement has been leading a largely-ignored boycott of some products whose owners it says are aligned with government interests. Odinga?s supporters say he is Kenya?s legitimate leader and Kenyatta?s election was neither free nor fair. Kenyatta?s victory in August was annulled by the Supreme Court over irregularities, but he then won a re-run, which Odinga boycotted over a failure to revamp the electoral commission. Kenyatta was sworn in for a second term in November and state institutions report to him. ?I, Raila Omolo Odinga, do swear that I will protect the nation as people?s president, so help me God,? Odinga said to the cheers of more than 15,000 people in Uhuru Park, next to Nairobi?s main business district. During a speech lasting less than five minutes, Odinga declined to give details of his plans and said they would be disclosed in ?due course?. In a possible sign of division within the opposition alliance, Odinga?s vice presidential candidate and two other senior leaders were absent. Odinga said the vice president would be sworn in at a later date. The attorney-general had warned that Odinga could be charged with treason if the event went ahead - an offense that can carry the death penalty. As people assembled, authorities forced independent television and radio stations reporting on the gathering off air, several outlets said - the most widespread censorship for a decade.