Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi at a past event. [Photo/ nation.co.ke]
Lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi has called on the government not to arrest those who took part in NASA leader Raila Odinga’s swearing-in as the people's president.This comes as the government begins a crackdown on those who planned and aided the oath ceremony which was held at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park grounds on Tuesday, January 30.According to the senior counsel who was part of President Uhuru Kenyatta's defense team during the presidential petition case, the participants of the swearing-in should not be prosecuted.Ahmednasir argued that the participants only presided over a 'mock' function which does not constitute the criminal offense of treason."I implore the GOK not to arrest/ prosecute anyone who took part in the swearing-in Hon Raila as the people's president. A mock swearing-in ceremony by a bunch of clowns who pulled a cheap publicity stunt doesn't constitute a criminal offense of treason. All participants lacked mens rea," said the veteran lawyer on a post on his Twitter handle.His statement comes after Ruaraka MP TJ Kajwang who stood behind Raila as he read the oath was arrested by plainclothes police officers at the Milimani Law Courts on Wednesday.The government is reportedly pursuing other NASA leaders who took part in the ceremony including Siaya Senator James Orengo and Lawyer Miguna Miguna.