The Kenyan government on Tuesday declared the opposition’s ‘National Resistance Movement’ a criminal group, paving the way for potential arrests following the symbolic inauguration of the opposition leader.

Interior Ministry spokesman Mwenda Njoka confirmed the authenticity of an official notice sent to several media houses saying the movement – a loosely organised coalition of opposition lawmakers – had been declared illegal.

Kenyan opposition leader, Raila Odinga, had earlier in the day defied government’s warning and sworn-in himself as “the people’s president” and could face treason trial.

The government had warned that he risked being charged for treason, an offence punishable by death.

In spite of the warning, he took a symbolic oath of office on Tuesday.

Odinga, who boycotted the country’s disputed election last year, swore himself in as the “people’s president” at a mock inauguration ceremony Tuesday in protest against President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Thousands of opposition supporters gathered at Uhuru Park in central Nairobi to attend the “swearing-in” protest event, which was organised by Odinga’s National Super Alliance (NASA).

•Pieced together from Reuters and NAN reports.