Kalonzo: Uhuru made wise decision to keep police away from Raila’s mock swearing-in
By Kenneth Mwenda, September 9, 2025Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka has said former President Uhuru Kenyatta made a wise decision by not deploying police to block Raila Odinga’s symbolic swearing-in as “people’s president” at Uhuru Park in January 2018.
Speaking during a podcast interview on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, Kalonzo said Uhuru’s choice prevented possible bloodshed at a time when political temperatures in Kenya were at their highest.
“Uhuru was somewhere in Addis Ababa. Alifanya jambo la busara kutokubali, kama mwenzake baadaye Ruto alifanya. Ruto anaachilia, piga ua,” Kalonzo said.
He dismissed claims that the opposition had planned to storm State House after the ceremony. According to him, there were no such discussions within the National Super Alliance (NASA).
“There were also no discussions after Raila’s swearing-in. Tumatch twende State House. Hakuna kitu kama hiyo. That’s why he was sworn in a week before,” he explained.
The former vice president also repeated his earlier claim that lawyer Miguna Miguna had carried out an oath for Raila days before the Uhuru Park gathering. He argued that this earlier event showed why the January 30, 2018, swearing-in turned out to be more symbolic than decisive.
Boycotting elections
Raila’s public oath at Uhuru Park came after he boycotted the repeat presidential election in October 2017, which followed the Supreme Court’s annulment of the August poll. Uhuru Kenyatta went on to win the re-run, a result Odinga rejected.
The swearing-in, however, deepened divisions within the opposition. Kalonzo, Musalia Mudavadi, and Moses Wetang’ula skipped the ceremony, fuelling speculation of cracks within NASA. Raila later told supporters that his deputies would be sworn in at a later date.
On the day of the event, thousands of opposition supporters turned up, but the government responded by shutting down major television stations to prevent live coverage. Attorney General Githu Muigai had already warned that the oath amounted to treason.
Looking back, Kalonzo credited Uhuru for exercising restraint instead of unleashing the police on the gathering. He contrasted Uhuru’s actions with those of President William Ruto, saying the current head of state has also allowed space for political events without state interference.