Over 60,000 Kenyans turned up for Uhuru Kenyatta's inauguration at Kasarani. [Photo/PSCU]
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto were sworn-in for their second term in office at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on Tuesday even as Opposition leaders under the NASA umbrella continued to resist his legitimacy as president.
During his swearing in ceremony, President Kenyatta’s speech majorly highlighted strengthening the ties that bind Kenyans together at every level of the society.
“It is time for us to learn that it is fine for us to agree to disagree, while still strengthening our bonds of unity and nationhood,” President Kenyatta said.
He added: “On my part, I have begun reaching out to all leaders, across the political divide, restating my commitment and expressing my willingness to work with them to achieve this objective of nationhood.”
Delivering his speech, Deputy President William Ruto reiterated the need for Kenyans to embrace peace and work together to develop the country.
“All of us, as the people of Kenya, must stand together to say no to hate, to resist ethnicity, to refuse division and to reject violence. What is important, going forward, is the transformation of our country and the development of our nation,” the DP said.
The Tuesday ceremony was historic, as global media houses pitched camp to cover the official kick off of Kenyatta’s second term after overriding stiff competition in two elections in less than three months.
The South China Morning Post (SCMP) contrasted the celebrations at Kasarani and the murky atmosphere in Eastland’s Jacaranda grounds where the Opposition had planned to hold a memorial rally for its supporters who died in confrontation with police in recent pol related protests.
SCMP tilted its coverage; Chaos in Kenya as President Kenyatta sworn in, with police clashing with supporters and opposition groups.
United Kingdom’s Guardian too casted Kenyatta’s big day into two halves in a piece titled; Kenyatta sworn in for second term as Kenya's president amid protests
The Independent covered the Tuesday inauguration under a lengthy title that also captured the havoc that was witnessed in Nairobi. It said; Kenya: Police teargas opposition leader as swearing-in for President Kenyatta masks fragility of '98%' election win.
Asia’s Indian Express blended the two faces of Kenya’s political scenes in an article titled; Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta sworn in for new term, amid protests.
Reuters carried at least eight updates on the Tuesday events in Kenya’s capital primarily interchanging between the ceremonious inauguration and the mourning side of the Opposition NASA. It reported on its eighth update; Kenya president sworn in, rival Odinga promises own inauguration.
Aljazeera narrowly covered the Kenyan events. It reported in a piece titled; Kenyatta sworn in as president of Kenya. In its coverage, the tabloid stated that Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta had been sworn in for a second and final five-year term, a month after winning a bitterly disputed election rerun marked by delays and boycott.
The New York Times took a keen interest on the country’s economic index in relation to the over 120 days of political upheaval. It published a piece titled; As President Is Finally Inaugurated, Kenyans Are Feeling Economic Pain.
BBC on its end published two major pieces upon the Tuesday inauguration of President Kenyatta. In one, the global media platform said; Kenyatta vows to overcome divisions. The piece highlighted the unfortunate turn of events that led to the death of two people in opposition clashes with police even as Uhuru Kenyatta was being inaugurated as president. In the second piece, BBC pitched camp on Uhuru’s second inauguration as Head of State.