Nyando Member of Parliament Jared Okelo has maintained that he will resign in the event that National Super Alliance (NASA) leader, Raila Odinga fails to swear in as the ‘President of the Republic of Kenya.’ Speaking on Radio Ramogi on Thursday, the first term legislator confirmed his position that he is prepared to vacate office. During the burial ceremony of the veteran Radio Journalist Agawo Patrobas of Royal Media Services, the legislator threatened to resign in two weeks if the swearing in does not take place.
“I went into Parliament not to sit in the opposition benches but to support President Raila Odinga’s policies as he discharges his mandate from State House. I cannot sit in Parliament with people I know connived to snatch Odinga’s victory while he languishes out in the cold,” he said on Monday.
TREASON CHARGES
During Kitui West MP Francis Nyenze’s burial on December 19, the opposition leader Raila Odinga declared he was very ready to face death and that nothing will deter him from swearing in. This came days after the Attorney General Githu Muigai issued a warning to NASA leader of severe consequences should he make good his threats. Muigai warned that parallel swearing in of Raila Odinga would attract treason charges, which are punishable by death.
MP Okelo applauded the Supreme Court for declaring the mandatory death sentence unconstitutional in a case filed by two convicts Francis Muruatetu and Wilson Mwangi who had been in jail for the last 14 years. The court directed the Attorney general and Director of Public Prosecutions to form a committee that will formulate guidelines for sentencing of those on death row.
“The mandatory nature of the death sentence as provided under section 204 of the penal code is hereby declared unconstitutional. For the avoidance of doubt, this order does not disturb the validity of the death sentence as contemplated under article 26(3) of our Constitution,” reads a section of the ruling as presented by Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu.
MP Okelo urged the NASA Coalition to proceed with the planned swearing in of Raila Odinga.
ALASSANE QUATTRA VS LAURENT GBAGBO CASE
The legislator mentioned the case of Ivory Coast when the then President, Gbagbo, desperately clung to power in the face of public outcry. He denied reports that he was willing to surrender power to his main rival Quattra, rejected the demands and was later hounded out of office forcefully.
He cited United Nations (UN) offices as classical examples of suitable places for the swearing in of the opposition leader Raila Odinga.
Could this be a case of SOLIDARITY or SOLODARITY? Time will tell.
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