THOUSANDS GATHER FOR UHURU INAGURATION

 

 

Following mass influx of Kenyata supporters to witness their president's official sworn in, Kenyan security forces have fired tear gas to control crowds trying to force their way into a stadium for President Uhuru Kenyatta's inauguration as riot police sealed off an area where the opposition planned to hold a rival rally.

Kenyatta won a second five-year term on October 26 in a repeat presidential election boycotted by opposition leader Raila Odinga, who said it would not be free and fair.

The Supreme Court nullified the first presidential election, in August, over irregularities.

The extended election season has divided Kenya, a Western ally in a volatile region, and blunted growth in East Africa's richest economy. Supporters of Kenyatta - who won with 98 per cent of the vote after Odinga's boycott - are urging the opposition to engage in talks and move on.

"Our responsibility after the political competition is to come together and work to build the nation," Kenyatta told a church service on Sunday. Hours before the inauguration was due to start, 60,000 Kenyatta supporters, many clad in the red and yellow Jubilee party colours and carrying Kenyan flags, filled the stadium where the ceremony will take place.

Others, chafing at being kept outside, overwhelmed police and streamed in. Officers then fired tear gas in a bid to control them.

"I'm sure Uhuru will be able to bring people together and unite them so we can all work for the country," said Eunice Jerobon, a trader who traveled overnight from the Rift Valley town of Kapsabet.

Odinga supporters say such talk of unity is tantamount to surrender. They accuse the ruling party of stealing the election, rampant corruption, directing abuse by the security forces and neglecting vast swathes of the country.

"A return to the political backwardness of our past is more than unacceptable. It is intolerable ... This divide cannot be bridged by dialogue and compromise," Odinga's National Super Alliance opposition alliance said in a statement

 

Source: news.com.au

The crowd has reportedly broken one of the barriers, causing a stampede as security officers try to control the gathering - Others are still trying to break the gates to access the main venue. Police officers having difficult time to calm rowdy youth Thousands of Kenyans on Tuesday, November 28, started trooping to Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, as early as 4 am to attend President Uhuru Kenyatta's swearing in ceremony. At some point there was a stampede as the crowd broke one of the barriers while forcing its way in, leading to a confrontation with the police. Read more: https://www.tuko.co.ke/259058-stampede-kasarani-crowds-attending-uhurus-inauguration-break-barrier.html#259058

Thousands of Kenyans troop to Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, to attend President Uhuru Kenyatta's swearing in ceremony Read more: https://www.tuko.co.ke/259058-stampede-kasarani-crowds-attending-uhurus-inauguration-break-barrier.html#259058

Thousands of Kenyans troop to Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, to attend President Uhuru Kenyatta's swearing in ceremony Read more: https://www.tuko.co.ke/259058-stampede-kasarani-crowds-attending-uhurus-inauguration-break-barrier.html#259058

Thousands of Kenyans troop to Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, to attend President Uhuru Kenyatta's swearing in ceremony Read more: https://www.tuko.co.ke/259058-stampede-kasarani-crowds-attending-uhurus-inauguration-break-barrier.html#259058

Thousands of Kenyans troop to Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, to attend President Uhuru Kenyatta's swearing in ceremony Read more: https://www.tuko.co.ke/259058-stampede-kasarani-crowds-attending-uhurus-inauguration-break-barrier.html#259058

Thousands of Kenyans troop to Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, to attend President Uhuru Kenyatta's swearing in ceremony Read more: https://www.tuko.co.ke/259058-stampede-kasarani-crowds-attending-uhurus-inauguration-break-barrier.html#259058

Thousands of Kenyans troop to Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, to attend President Uhuru Kenyatta's swearing in ceremony Read more: https://www.tuko.co.ke/259058-stampede-kasarani-crowds-attending-uhurus-inauguration-break-barrier.html#259058

Thousands of Kenyans troop to Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, to attend President Uhuru Kenyatta's swearing in ceremony - The crowd has reportedly broken one of the barriers, causing a stampede as security officers try to control the gathering - Others are still trying to break the gates to access the main venue. Police officers having difficult time to calm rowdy youth Thousands of Kenyans on Tuesday, November 28, started trooping to Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, as early as 4 am to attend President Uhuru Kenyatta's swearing in ceremony. At some point there was a stampede as the crowd broke one of the barriers while forcing its way in, leading to a confrontation with the police. Read more: https://www.tuko.co.ke/259058-stampede-kasarani-crowds-attending-uhurus-inauguration-break-barrier.html#259058

Thousands of Kenyans troop to Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, to attend President Uhuru Kenyatta's swearing in ceremony - The crowd has reportedly broken one of the barriers, causing a stampede as security officers try to control the gathering - Others are still trying to break the gates to access the main venue. Police officers having difficult time to calm rowdy youth Thousands of Kenyans on Tuesday, November 28, started trooping to Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, as early as 4 am to attend President Uhuru Kenyatta's swearing in ceremony. At some point there was a stampede as the crowd broke one of the barriers while forcing its way in, leading to a confrontation with the police. Read more: https://www.tuko.co.ke/259058-stampede-kasarani-crowds-attending-uhurus-inauguration-break-barrier.html#259058