Youth clash outside Raila Odinga's office, dump wreckage and escape as police watch

A group of matatu operators outside former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s office. The  group clashed with another group before they abandoned a wreckage of burnt matatu and escaped. (PHOTO: COURTESY)

A group of matatu operators clashed with another group outside former Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s office before they abandoned a wreckage of burnt matatu and escaped.

The clash happened after a group of goons led by a section of Nairobi MPs marched to Odinga’s office at Capitol Hill Square in protest against Monday’s protests in which a matatu was burnt along Juja Road, Nairobi.
Ironically, police did not stop the protesters as they marched through city streets including Juja Road, Jogoo Road, Moi Avenue, Harambee Avenue, Uhuru Highway and Hailesselasie Avenue.

It is not clear if Odinga was in the office as the drama happened. CORD issued a statement saying invading Mr. Odinga’s office is an attempt on his life.

“Only yesterday, a public service vehicle hit Mr. Odinga’s car right where he sits. The driver was arrested and later released. Police have kept quiet on this incident.”
The driver was later charged in court Wednesday with reckless driving. Spokesman Philip Etale said the development were part of intimidation tactics on CORD.

“CORD wants to make it clear that no amount of intimidation, provocation or public pronouncements that have no constitutional bearing will stop them from pushing the government to agree to dialogue on reforms in the IEBC.”

The protest came a day after interior Cabinet Secretary Joseph Nkaissery banned all unlawful protests in the country.
The group was addressed by interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho, MPs Maina Kamanda, Dennis Waweru, Kimani Ichungwa and Ferdinand Waititu outside Harambee House before they proceeded to Odinga’s office.
Matatu Owners Association officials were also present. This delayed the departure of treasury Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich to Parliament where he read the National Budget for almost an hour.
And as they snaked up to their intended destination, another group ready to defend Cord property assembled both Orange House and Odinga’s office.

Those who had camped outside Orange House were heavily armed sparking fears of violent clash if and when the protesters arrived there.

And as if the protesters were being directed, they avoided Orange House and went to Capitol Hill where there was a group of about ten youths also waiting to repulse them.

Five police officers who were outside the Capitol Hill office took cover when the group that was carrying the wreckage aboard a trailer arrived. That was those defending the office emerged and started to engage them with stones and clubs.

The protesters led by Waweru managed to dump the wreckage at the entrance of the building and retreated under a hail of stones. And by the time a reinforcement had arrived there, the protesters with the MP had retreated and sped off through Upper Hill road to the central business district. Some motorists complained of harassment and robberies on the affected routes.

Police on duty said they had been told not to disrupt the procession. The matatu was burnt by unknown people on Monday as the anti-IEBC protests went on the city.
Etale said the ugly incident which began from Kayole in Eastlands to Upper Hill is not only unlawful and unconstitutional but also uncouth and an act of hooliganism.

“It is dishounarable, barbaric and archaic for Honourable Members of Parliament to organise such a horrible and pathetic demonstration in the name of protesting the burning of a motor vehicle which we have evidence that it was set ablaze by their own people with the aim of portraying CORD as violent.”
Etale said six people have so far been shot dead by police in Kisumu and Siaya and tens of others are hospitalized with bullet wounds but the government is yet to say anything.

“The police artillery which a common feature in CORD’s peaceful demonstrations was conspicuously missing. Instead the rowdy and dangerously armed goons were accorded State protection and guided towards their target.”
It is apparent that only Jubilee has the monopoly of holding demonstrations and using the same to cause destruction to people’s property.