PLANS TO SWEAR IN UHURU BEGIN

PPS President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta (second right) and his deputy

William Ruto (right) meet top security officials at Mr Kenyatta’s

home in Nairobi, on March 11, 2013.  NATION MEDIA GROUP

Top security officials and public works staff were among the first people to arrive at Kasarani stadium on Monday, as preparations for the swearing-in of President-elect began in earnest.

The security agents drawn from National Intelligence Service surveyed the stadium while their public works counterparts analysed the necessary repairs that should be done before March 26.

All events slated to take place at the stadium between March 9 and March 26 have been cancelled. These are part of the preparations for oath-taking ceremony for President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta.

Kasarani Public Relations Officer Rakki Asman said football training at the stadium had been cancelled.

“We have cancelled all activities including training for Harambee Stars; the swearing in takes precedence over any other event,” he said.

Security at the entrance to the stadium was tight on Monday, and visitors were required to sign in and leave their identification cards at the gate.

The lawns at the stadium were being mowed and plans to refurbish seats that were vandalized by football hooligans were underway.

“We are liaising with the committee on assumption to the office of the President on what needs to be done and when,” said Mr Asman.

In an interview with the Nation, Chairman of the committee and Public Service boss Francis Kimemia said a full transition schedule would be released at the end of this week.

“We will give a schedule on how the transition will move from the outgoing to the incoming President. This will be released to the media on Friday,” he said.

Mr Kimemia’s team has already prepared a plan for the swearing in of President Kibaki’s successor by Judiciary Registrar Gladys Shollei in the presence of Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.

The programme was adopted immediate after Mr Uhuru Kenyatta was declared President-elect by the polls team on Saturday.

The two-week period between announcement of the winner and swearing-in ceremony was created to give room for any disputes relating to the election. It is also within this time that preparation for the power transfer is supposed to be done.

The president-elect and his or her deputy are expected to give a list of guests they intend to invite for the occasion.

The ceremony will begin at 10am and Kenyans, invited guests and the president-elect are expected to be seated by that time.

Mr Kimemia said the programme would guide the proceedings of that day.

“As the guests wait for the incumbent President, entertainment will be taking place and the President-elect must arrive before the incumbent President,” he said.

Nation