Kenyan police set up a tight security net in central Nairobi yesterday ahead of an expected showdown between opposition and pro-government lawmakers in the first session of the new parliament.
Forces from the General Service Unit, an elite paramilitary force, were deployed in the business district and around the main park in the capital to prevent any demonstrations.
Roadblocks were in position to allow a quick lockdown of the city center.
The opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) of Raila Odinga has refused to recognize Mwai Kibaki as president, charging that the incumbent rigged his way to re-election in the Dec. 27 polls.
ODM lawmakers have vowed to sit on the government benches in parliament yesterday to protest Kibaki's re-election.
In parliamentary elections held the same day last month, ODM trounced Kibaki's party and bundled several key government figures out of parliament, but still fell short of securing an outright majority in the chamber.
Alliances with smaller parties have been in the works in recent days, as both sides are expected to go head-to-head in the vote for the key post of parliament speaker yesterday.
The ODM, which commands the highest number of seats, 99, hoped to elect its candidate, Kenneth Marende, as speaker in the first business yesterday. Further down the line it aims to block the government's work and possibly seek a vote of no confidence in Kibaki.
It has even threatened to occupy the government's seats.
"It's going to be very acrimonious. We should definitely expect some drama," said political analyst X.N. Iraki.
Former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan was also due to fly into Nairobi at the head of a group of "Eminent Africans" to try and mediate between Kibaki and Odinga.
Coming with Annan were Graca Machel, who is the wife of former South African president Nelson Mandela, and former Tanzanian president Benjamin Mkapa.
Turmoil since the elections has killed at least 612 people, dented Kenya's democratic credentials, slowed one of Africa's brightest economies and dismayed foreign donors.
In the most tangible threat from the West since the crisis began, the EU threatened late on Monday to cut aid.
Kibaki's Party of National Unity won 43 seats at the election, but believes it can tempt enough legislators from other parties to join its ranks and keep control.
Kibaki, 76, and Odinga, 63 -- a one-time member of his Cabinet and former political prisoner -- were likely to face each other in parliament for the swearing-in, the first time they have been together since the election.
"The wounds of the losers are still fresh, especially because they believe that they were robbed of the ultimate prize," the Standard newspaper said. "It is understandable they have a grudge and may want to settle scores on the floor of the House."
Diplomatic efforts to get Kibaki and Odinga to negotiate suffered a blow on Monday when a senior Cabinet minister and close Kibaki ally rejected Annan's mission in advance.
"If Kofi Annan is coming, he's not coming at our invitation," said Roads and Public Works Minister John Michuki. "We won an election. We don't have a problem to be solved here."
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