Uhuru's wife to hold Bible as he takes oath

First lady-in-waiting Margaret Kenyatta will hold the Bible as her husband Uhuru Kenyatta takes the oath of office next week.

Mr Kenyatta will place his left hand on the Bible as he is being sworn in on Tuesday April 9.

The president-elect will shift from the Kenyan norm of personally holding the Bible while taking the oath of office.

Chief of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) General Julius Karangi said Mr Kenyatta requested that his wife holds the Bible for him while he takes the oath of office.

“This is a request by the president-elect, it can only be good that we grant him this wish on this historic day,” said Gen Karangi.

New elements have been included in the event that is steeped in tradition.

For instance, President Kibaki will hand over the Constitution promulgated in 2010 to Mr Kenyatta. This has not been the case since independence.

A show of magnificence was witnessed on Wednesday during the full dress rehearsal at Moi International Sports centre, Kasarani ahead of the swearing in of Mr Kenyatta and his deputy president-elect William Ruto on Tuesday.

The mock ceremony followed instructions written in the programme by the Committee on Assumption to the Office of the President to the letter.

The programme has a photo of the outgoing president on the second page and that of Mr Kenyatta on the third page.

The committee has settled on Uganda President Yoweri Museveni to speak on behalf of all the invited guests on this day.

Programme

The programme will officially kick off at 11.45am when President Kibaki arrives at the stadium. According to the plan, the event will end at exactly 1.45pm.

During the rehearsals and on the actual day, guests are required to stand on arrival of President Kibaki, during the swearing-in ceremony, when the 21-gun salute starts outside the stadium and when both the former and the new president leave the stadium.

Parade commander for the swearing in ceremony will be Lt Col Jeff Nyagah, who is renowned for the KDF operations in Kismayu.

On this day, Mr Kenyatta will be decorated with the instruments of power which include Chief of Golden Hearts (CGH) and he will also receive the sword and the Constitution.

The sword is the same one inherited by former President Daniel arap Moi when he took over the presidency after Mzee Jomo Kenyatta’s death, then passed to President Kibaki.

Mr Kimemia confirmed that the government will ensure portraits of Mr Kenyatta were available countrywide.