Museveni, 10 heads of state to attend Uhuru’s swearing-in
President Kenyatta (R) and President Museveni at a recent function in Nairobi. File photo
What you need to know:
In 2013, when he took over the reins of power in his first term, 12 heads of state attended the fete at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
The government yesterday said at least 11 heads of state had confirmed their attendance of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s swearing-in today.
About 13 others will be sending either their country’s second-in-command, a special envoy or a minister, sources at the Foreign Affairs ministry have told the Nation.
Top on the list of the heads of state attending Mr Kenyatta’s second and final term swearing-in is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose office was quoted by the Times of Israel saying he will land on Today morning, and leave later in the afternoon.
Others are President Museveni, Botswana’s Ian Khama, Rwanda’s Paul Kagame, John Pombe Magufuli of Tanzania, Edgar Lungu of Zambia, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh of Djibouti, Namibia’s Hage Geingob, Faure Gnassingbé of Togo, Mohamed Farmajo of Somalia, and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn of Ethiopia.
Countries that will send the second in command— either the prime minister or the vice presidents— are Nigeria, Guinea, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, and Yemen.
Senegal, China and Japan will send special envoys while South Africa, Britain, Ukraine, and India will send ministers.
President Kenyatta, with his deputy William Ruto, will be sworn in for a second term following the Supreme Court November 20 decision to uphold his October 26 repeat presidential election that was boycotted by his main challenger Raila Odinga.
The Israeli being very security-conscious and the presence of Mr Netanyahu makes the security arrangements even more complicated.
When he came to Kenya in July last year, the security requirements for Mr Netanyahu caused untold traffic snarl-ups in the city, so much so that he had to apologise — albeit in jest — following an uproar on social media. Roads were blocked for his motorcade, always escorted by a police helicopter.
“We expect many international visitors, many heads of state. Therefore, there will be no compromise on security that day; no compromise at all,” Nairobi County Police Commander Japhet Koome said.
“We have what we’ve marked as the red zone, where there will be maximum security. There, it’s serious business. Anybody causing trouble along the red zone will be dealt with according to the law, and firmly,” he said.
