Raila Odinga’s car hit as anti-IEBC demos turn ugly

The partly shattered windscreen of Raila’s vehicle, which police deny was as a result of a bullet. [PHOTO: BONIFACE OKENDO/STANDARD]

NAIROBI: Scores of protesters were injured as police broke up Opposition demonstrations against the electoral commission in Nairobi, Kisumu and Homa Bay.

Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) leaders yesterday blamed police for using live bullets, amid claims that one of the shots shattered the windscreen of Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s car. Raila, however, said he was not in the car at the time of the incident. The ODM leader explained that he could not tell whether it was hit by a stone or a bullet, and that he would wait for the outcome of investigations.

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet, on his part, termed claims that the vehicle was shot at as false, insisting only teargas was used to restore normalcy.

He had earlier told reporters that he was not aware his officers had used live bullets and that his office would investigate the matter and take action.

“I am not aware officers there used live bullets. They were well controlled but we will know if it happened and who did it,” Boinnet said when asked if his officers had fired live bullets at protesters.

Nairobi County Commander Japhet Koome said 15 suspects had been arrested robbing people. The protests forced businesses especially along Tom Mboya street in Nairobi to close down.

Police dispersed the CORD leaders before they could address hundreds of their supporters at the offices of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in Nairobi.

Raila blamed police for injuries sustained by protesters in Nairobi, saying officers had provoked a peaceful demonstration.

Anti-riot police descended on the protesters moments before the leaders led by Raila, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula could address the crowd that had gathered along University Way near the IEBC offices.

The protesters had earlier defied a police advisory not to camp outside IEBC offices and instead pass through University Way as part of their right to picket and assemble.

The demonstrators were hurt in the ensuing stampede after police descended on them with clubs, teargas canisters and water canons. Others were hit by flying objects and stones hurled as chaos reigned outside Anniversary Towers, the headquarters of IEBC. Among those wounded were a number of MPs, who had also arrived at the scene.

 ADDRESS CROWD

Raila and other leaders had just arrived at the venue in a convoy of vehicles and stopped just metres away from the IEBC offices. They then sat on the ground surrounded by bodyguards and other leaders, among them Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat.

KANU’s Secretary General Nick Salat during the anti-IEBC demonstration in Nairobi. PHOTO: BEVERLYNE MUSILI

As the frenzied gathering blew whistles and sang anti-IEBC protest songs, the leaders sat down, perhaps expecting that the police would allow them time to address the crowd as they had done on two previous occasions.

But only Siaya Senator James Orengo, his Machakos counterpart Johnstone Muthama and Salat got a chance to lift the microphone.

Without warning, and in ugly scenes that left scores injured and others hospitalised, police — who appeared determined to halt the speeches — hurled teargas canisters and directed water cannons at the protesters, who included women and the old.

“We did not want to give the crowd a chance to hurl stones the way they have been doing. This time we were prepared and we were not going to let them,” said a police officer minutes after the crowds had dispersed, and only the smell of toxic fumes and traces of blood remained as evidence of the protests.

The leaders had arrived in style after driving through Kenyatta and Moi avenues. All through, pedestrians and motorists complained they were harassed and robbed by some of the protesters.

It was the third Monday of mass action to force out the IEBC commissioners, whom the Opposition claims lacked the credibility to conduct a free and fair election.

CORD accuses the commissioners of partisanship and is demanding minimum reforms that include an all-inclusive process to replace the commissioners once they leave office.

The ruling Jubilee coalition has, however, said any poll reform must be within the existing legal framework and accused the Opposition of preparing the country for chaos in the 2017 election.

A recent court decision fell short of outlawing CORD’s mass protests, saying protests must be within the law. Five Jubilee MPs led by Ferdinand Waititu (Kabete) had petitioned the court to outlaw the protests on grounds that they bordered on anarchy.