Nyanza CORD leaders proceed with anti-IEBC protests despite court order

CORD supporters demonstrate along the streets of Kisumu on May 9, 2016 on their way to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices demanding its disbandment. (PHOTO: COLLINS ODUOR/ STANDARD)

Nyanza CORD leaders led the public in protests against poll commissioners at various commission offices despite a court order that barred demonstrations.

Only Kisii and Homa Bay counties were calm.

In Kisumu, Migori, Siaya and Nyamira, police had a rough time containing the protesters who chanted anti-IEBC slogans, maintaining that they would continue with the protests until the election commissioners left office.

In Kisumu, police officers managed to quell the protestd in less than 30 minutes as they engaged the demonstrators in running battles.

Led by Deputy Governor Ruth Odinga, the protesters declared that they would not be cowed or intimidated by the police while exercising their constitutional rights.

She said CORD leaders would boycott the 2017 elections if IEBC commissioners stayed put.

“We only fight for democratic rights enshrined in the law and nothing else,” said Ms Odinga, who asked Kenyans to join the push for electoral reforms to level the playing field ahead of the 2017 elections.

The demonstrators burnt a dummy ballot box labelled IEBC OUT in front of the Nyanza Regional Co-ordinator’s offices where senior administration police officers also operate from.

The incident prompted police to lob teargas canisters to contain the situation.

Peaceful picketing

Some shop owners hurriedly closed their premises for fear of plunder.

In Migori, police officers lobbed teargas canisters to disperse rowdy protesters who had marched to the IEBC offices threatening to throw out the officials.

In Nyamira, police were swift in dispersing a group of demonstrators marching towards the IEBC offices at the county headquarters.

Elsewhere, CORD supporters in Kwale County yesterday marched to the Msambweni IEBC offices to petition the electoral body commissioners to resign.

The picketing, which ended peacefully, involved hundreds of opposition supporters and ended after about an hour.

Led by Kwale County ODM Vice Chairperson Nicholas Zani, the supporters were not allowed to enter the IEBC offices by dozens of anti-riot policemen who ringed the offices and blocked the entrance to the building.

“We are not allowing anyone past this point. It is simple, we will call for you the IEBC officials, you give them what you have and then leave,” Msambweni OCPD Joseph Omijah told the protesters.

They then presented the letter to Mizeh Achani, the assistant IEBC co-ordinator for Msambweni.

No other demonstration was reported in any part of Coast, including Mombasa, where there was heavy police deployment around the IEBC offices.

— Report by Kepher Otieno, Scophine Otieno, Stanley Ongwae andTobias Chanji