Anti-IEBC demos: Police holding 14 as 34 injured

Police officers disperse protesters along Moi Avenue, Nairobi on Wednesday 11/10/17 [Boniface Okendo,Standard]

Fourteen people have been arrested following the Wednesday demonstrations against the electoral agency, amid reports of massive economic losses in Nyanza.

The police in Homa Bay said they arrested the 14 during the demonstrations against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in which two police officers were injured.

The officers were attacked at different points, with one losing his gun, which was later recovered.

Businessmen in the town claimed they suffered losses amounting to over Sh30 million after their premises were looted.

Traders led by the secretary general of the Homa Bay Giant Traders’ Association, Jack Nyambega, also expressed concern over loss of business.

Homa Bay County Commander Marius Tum said the 14 were due in court last evening.

As another confrontation between the police and demonstrators looms today, two victims shot by the police in Kisumu are still in a critical condition.

The two were taken for specialised medical care at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital after being shot during Wednesday’s anti-IEBC demonstration.

Rashid Odhiambo, 19, and Lucas Otieno, 24, were yesterday at the hospital’s high dependency unit with serious injuries. Odhiambo had a gunshot wound on the face while Otieno was shot in the groin.

According to the hospital's superintendent, Dr Juliana Otieno, Odhiambo may be referred to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital for specialised care.

About 34 people, including two pupils, were injured during the day-long protests.

A Standard Six pupil at Kibuye Primary School was allegedly hit by a tuktuk as people fled from the police who were repulsing demonstrators, while a Form Three student at Sacred Heart Academy in Kisumu was treated and discharged after he was choked by teargas.

Twenty-eight people who were admitted to the hospital with various injuries were later discharged without paying any fees.

And traders from Kericho who supply goods and services to Kisumu are counting their losses.

Philip Langat, who supplies milk, said he was unable to reach his customers in Kisumu and Awasi.

A maize trader, Peter Rono, said he used to make two or three tips to Kisumu to transport at least 200 bags of maize to his customers but now only makes one trip a week, and only on a safe day.

Barnard Langat, a driver with K-64 Travellers Sacco who plies the Kericho-Awasi Eldoret route, said the number of long-distance travellers has dwindled.

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