April 17 (Bloomberg) -- Raila Odinga, the leader of Kenya's main opposition group, was sworn in as the country's prime minister, ending the east African nation's worst political crisis since independence in 1963.

Odinga took the oath of office in a ceremony at State House in the capital, Nairobi today, according to images broadcast on Kenya Television Network, a closely held broadcaster. Uhuru Kenyatta, a member of President Mwai Kibaki's Party of National Unity, and Musalia Mudavadi, the deputy leader of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement, were sworn in as deputies.

Odinga becomes Kenya's second ever prime minister, after Jomo Kenyatta who served in the same capacity after independence, before becoming the nation's first president in 1964.

Kibaki and Odinga agreed to form a coalition government in February to end two months of ethnic violence, triggered by the disputed Dec. 27 election. At least 1,500 people died and more than 300,000 fled their homes in the conflict. The accord was brokered by former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, who attended today's ceremony.

To contact the reporter on this story: Eric Ombok in Nairobi via Johannesburg at pmrichardson@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: April 17, 2008 05:47 EDT