Police have used tear gas to disperse CORD leaders and supporters protesting outside IEBC headquarters at Anniversary Towers, Nairobi as KANU joins the anti-IEBC protests.
Cord leaders raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses wetang’ula led supporters in attempt to storm IEBC offices for a third time when they were dispersed by anti-riot police.
KANU leaders led by secretary general Nick Salat also joined the anti-IEBC protests in solidarity with CORD.
Elsewhere in Kisumu, three MCAs and several protestors were injured during the anti- IEBC demonstrations that took three hours. Businesses were paralyzed in Kisumu CBD as police and the protesters engaged in running battles.
Manyatta B MCA Nereah Okombo, Pamela Odhiambo (nominated) and Edward Ogola found themselves on the receiving end during the protests as they sustained injuries.
The MCAs were allegedly beaten by police officers but were rushed to Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu. Among the injured were three protesters who were rushed to Kisumu District Hospital.
The protestors started their match in Kondele at about 10am and slowly marched through the central business district to the IEBC offices in Millimani before they were dispersed by police officers.
Kisunu East MP Shakeel Shabir who joined in the demonstrations said CORD will not relent in their efforts to push for electoral reforms ahead of next years’ general elections.
“The starting point to electoral reforms in this country is the removal of IEBC commissioners. We cannot trust our votes with an electoral body whose integrity is questionable,” he said.
Demonstrators collide with police
Police in Nyamira collided with demonstrating youth who wanted to find their way to county headquarters where IEBC offices are housed.
Seven MCAs led by Assembly Majority Leader Laban Masira, Chief Whip Peter Maroro, ODM branch Organising secretary Charles Sagwe, County ODM youth leader Julius Marita and Women representative Caroline Mogere had difficult time to penetrate past Nyamira police divisional headquarters road on their way to the IEBC offices.
The leaders engaged area AP Police commander Said Ndiema and OCS Alex Mumo in a heated exchange but the security officers threatened to use force to repulse their efforts.
The sight of teargass canisters and armed police officers wielding battons scared away the demonstrators who scampered for their safety.
The leaders vowed to further mobilize huge crowds on Monday next week when Governor John Nyagarama is expected to lead the protests in the town.
Reporting by Christine Ogutu, Kevin Ogutu and Stanley Ogwae
