Raila Odinga
Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga, who boycotted the country's
disputed election last year, swore himself in as the "people's
president" at a mock inauguration ceremony Tuesday in protest against
President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Thousands of opposition supporters gathered at Uhuru Park in
central Nairobi to attend the "swearing-in" protest event, which was
organized by Odinga's National Super Alliance (NASA). Police fired tear
gas in an attempt to disperse crowds pulling down signs near the park on
Tuesday.
Authorities had earlier said they would put a stop to any illegal
meetings, but Reuters reported that no uniformed police could be seen in
the park and no anti-riot officers or vehicles were visible.
Kenyatta won a second presidential term with 98% of the vote
following a controversial election re-run in November. The country's
Supreme Court nullified the previous ballot, also won by Kenyatta, due
to "illegalities and irregularities."