People Daily Team
Cord leaders were again at the centre of protests against the electoral commission in Nairobi and Kisumu that turned chaotic, leaving scores of demonstrators, including two Members of County Assembly, injured.
In Nairobi, police yesterday fired tear gas canisters and sprayed water cannons at Cord principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula, breaking up a crowd that had gathered on University Way attempting to storm the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Anniversary Towers offices.
Yesterday, unlike during demos held in the last two Mondays, police did not allow the leaders who staged a sit-in on University Way to address their supporters who were chanting anti-IEBC slogans. Raila and the other leaders were forced to cut short their speeches as the demonstrators scampered for safety when the first tear gas volleys were fired.
A group of youths who attempted to scale the gate into University of Nairobi were repelled by security guards, causing some to fall off and sustain injuries. Anti-riot police cornered many demonstrators who had tried to head to the Anniversary Towers direction and clobbered them.
Other groups ran into the City centre where some started robbing and mugging pedestrians who were caught up in the mayhem. Screams rent the upper part of Koinange Street and Moi Avenue as scores of people caught up on the streets were mugged and robbed of phones, wallets, handbags and other belongings. Raila’s car sustained a hit on the windscreen from an object, leaving the glass shattered. However, the Cord leader was not in the car at the time.
Nairobi County Commander Japheth Koome who led the combined security operation said he was not aware of claims by some Cord officials that the car had been hit by a bullet. However, officers at the scene said the damage to the car was caused by a rock hurled by the protesters.
The Cord principals were quickly whisked away from the scene by their security aides. Other politicians in the group included MPs Millie Odhiambo (Mbita), TJ Kajwang’ (Ruaraka), Peter Kaluma (Homa Bay Town), James Nyikal (Seme) and Senators Johnstone Muthama (Machakos), Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), James Orengo (Siaya) and Elizabeth Ongoro (nominated).
In Kisumu, two female members of the Kisumu County Assembly were injured as business was paralysed in the town when demonstrators pushing for the removal of IEBC clashed with anti-riot police. The two MCAs, Nereah Okombo (Manyatta B) and Pamela Adhiambo (nominated) were among demonstrators who were cornered by police while heading to Kisumu IEBC offices.
Okombo was admitted to Aga Khan Hospital where she was rushed after sustaining a head injury, while Adhiambo was treated of a back injury and discharged. Kisumu East MP Shakeel Shabir scampered to safety when the situation turned ugly.
In Nairobi, by the time police pounced on the crowd, only Muthama and Orengo had addressed the protesters who had blocked a section of University Way. Kanu Secretary General Nick also joined yesterday’s demo. Almost 20 protestors, some who were caught mugging pedestrians, were arrested and held at Central Police Station.
Earlier, Koome accused Cord leaders of engaging in an illegal demonstration and failing to notify police of their intention. “We are not going to allow lawlessness to prevail, the leaders should use the right procedure to address their grievances,” he said.
Trouble was also reported in Kwale, Siaya and Kisii where protestors engaged police in running battles in short-lived skirmishes that were quelled without injuries. In Nairobi and Kisumu, businesses near IEBC offices were quickly shut down when chaos erupted.
The demonstrations which started from Kisumu’s Kondele estate in the morning spread to Jomo Kenyatta Avenue where police intervened. Police split into groups which patrolled the whole town engaging the demonstrators in cat and mouse games.
In Mombasa, the protest failed to take place for a second time after locals shunned the call to come out in the streets. However, Police were deployed to man IEBC offices in the town and in other regional towns. “We did not plan for it. Our boss Governor Hassan Hassan Joho is in Turkey for a conference. We have not been given any directive,” said Mombasa ODM chairman Mohammed Khatimy.
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