US urges Raila Odinga to call-off swearing-in

The United States has asked National Super Alliance(NASA) leader Raila Odinga to call off the planned inauguration ceremony slated for December 12th.

Speaking on behalf of the US,Principal Deputy assistant Secretary at the US government’s Bureau of African Affairs Donald Yamamoto on Tuesday cautioned that the move would only serve to further plunge the country into turmoil.

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He spoke during a meeting with Mr Odinga, Nasa co-principals Musalia Mudavadi, Moses Wetang’ula and Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana representing NASA deputy leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who is in Germany looking after his ailing wife.

Source close to The Nation said that in return, the envoy assued to bring President Uhuru Kenyatta to the negotiating table in order to agree with the NASA on the way forward.

The meeting at US Ambassador Robert Godec’s residence was not without tacit threat to the parties, especially those who may not support the push for dialogue. Mr Yamamoto is said to have indicated that defiant individuals may face unspecified sanctions from President Donald Trump’s administration.

Mr Odinga’s coalition has refused to acknowledge Mr Kenyatta as the duly elected President. At the meeting, Nasa reportedly insisted that any form of dialogue with Jubilee must entail electoral reforms with a view to laying a roadmap for another election, a stance President Kenyatta has dismissed.

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Mr Yamamoto is expected to meet President Kenyatta in his push to initiate dialogue, and perhaps meet Nasa again afterwards.