Cord leader Raila Odinga was forced to hide in his car after police lobbed teargas canisters at a crowd accompanying him to the site where a building caved in at Hurumu slums. Police reportedly had to use teargas to disperse the crowd accompanying Raila and which had tried to forcibly access the cordoned off evacuation site hampering rescue operation.
Raila, who was in the company of his co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula, had to take refuge in their vehicles as GSU officers dispersed the crowd. The trio were making their first visit of the area following the collapse of a seven-storey residential apartment on Friday evening that has since claimed 23 people and left scores with injuries.
The incident comes barely a week after the Cord principals were tear-gassed as they attempted to access the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission offices at Anniversary Towers. They had marched to IEBC offices to eject the commissioners who they claim are incapable of conducting credible elections next year.
Their bid was however short-lived when police lobbed teargas at the crowd outside the premises, forcing the leaders to scamper for safety. Yesterday, Raila told his supporters to storm IEBC offices on Monday to push for the removal of the current commissioners.
“On Monday 9, we shall all meet at IEBC offices,” said Raila to his supporters, a message that was reiterated by his co-principals. Once calm returned, the Cord leaders returned to the site where they were briefed about the progress of the ongoing rescue operation, which enters its fourth day today.
Raila then visited Huruma CDF offices, which are serving as home to survivors of the ill-fated building and to condole with the families. He pledged to support affected families, who in consultation with the Nairobi County Government be given shelters to help rebuild their lives.
Cord pledged Sh50, 000 for each family affected by the incident. Raila with his co-principals also donated 50 bags of maize flour, 400kgs of sugar, 30 crates of water and five bundles of blankets to the affected residents.
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