Three die in Western Kenya and scores injured in protests

At least three people were killed in violent protests that rocked parts of the country yesterday.

More than 30 others were injured as police clashed with Opposition supporters in seven counties during demonstrations to press the ouster of Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) officials.

Police Headquarters reported disturbances in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisii, Kisumu, Siaya, Migori and Kakamega. Two protesters were shot dead by police in Siaya during demonstrations led by Governor Cornel Rasanga. The third one was killed in an orgy of violence in Kisumu that saw police use live bullets to disperse thousands of protesters.

In Mombasa, police last evening announced that eight people including Mombasa County Assembly Speaker Thadius Rajwayi were arrested following demonstrations in the coastal city. In Kakamega, Senator Boni Khalwale was arrested and arraigned in court for participating in the protests. Suna East MP Junet Mohamed was arrested along Mbagathi Way as he drove to the city.

And at the High Court in Nairobi, Opposition leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Mosyoka, Moses Wetang’ula and James Orengo risk being punished over the ongoing anti-IEBC protests.

Yesterday, five Jubilee MPs filed contempt of court proceedings against the CORD leaders, accusing them of defying orders that sought to restrain them and their supporters from engaging in chaotic demonstrations.

Justice Joseph Onguto, who certified the matter as urgent, directed Orengo to appear in court on May 26 since he had been adversely mentioned in the contempt petition.
“The petition seeks interpretation of the rule of law and respect for court orders. I therefore certify it as urgent and order that parties be served immediately,” ruled Onguto.

Yesterday, CORD leaders said the casualties witnessed indicated that shoot-to-kill orders witnessed in the 2007/08 post-election violence were still in force. They vowed the demonstrations would continue in various parts of the country next Monday, with even more intensity.

Leaders' convoy

Raila, Kalonzo, Wetang’ula as well as Kanu’s Nick Salat spoke after anti-riot police broke up their march to Anniversary Towers, the headquarters of polls body.

The other leaders drove through Haile Selassie Avenue, Tom Mboya Street, Wabera Street, Kenyatta Avenue, Muindi Mbingu Street and University Way before they were dispersed using tear-gas canisters and water cannons. They rode in their cars while holding white handkerchiefs and acknowledging greetings from their supporters.

IEBC offices in Nairobi were sealed off, with tens of officers ringing it and ensuring no protester came nearby.

Police had mounted roadblocks, chasing away and tear-gassing some of those who wanted to get into the city or gathered in small groups. The roadblocks were mounted near Serena Hotel, Panafric Hotel, at the City Mortuary, near DOD, South B, Mathare slums, Juja Road, Globe Cinema Roundabout and Kangemi.

More officers were deployed in major informal settlement areas including Kibera and Mathare to discourage people from coming to the city. For the better part of the day they managed to stop the protesters from reaching IEBC headquarters by tear-gassing and chasing them around.

This forced closure of many businesses in the city as pedestrians ran around in a stampede, causing more tension. Injuries were reported in the confusion.

At about 3.30pm, the convoy carrying the leaders emerged from the Railway area as police waited for them at a different site. The anti-riot officers tried to break up the convoy outside Trattoria Restaurant using tear-gas canisters, but in vain.

The convoy finally managed to arrive near Anniversary Towers, where they were dispersed using tear-gas canisters and water cannons. The motorcade was headed for Uhuru Highway when one of the police water canon blocked the way outside Lilian Towers. A confrontation ensued with some of the protesters kneeling down and chanting peace slogans.

Their chants did not last two minutes. The water cannon started to splash water at them. Raila and other leaders who were aboard their cars caved in. Then hell broke lose, with more tear gas and water being directed at their motorcade. This forced some of the cars to make wrong turns and others joined Koinange Street as the anti-riot officers pursued them. Police had announced they would not permit the protests in any parts of the country.

WATER CANNONS

But crowds surged and managed to arrive at Anniversary Towers before they were dispersed by the water cannons. The officers said they had not been notified as per the law to allow the protests. Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet said they would not allow any protests, whether supporting or opposing the commission.

“We warn against any protests either in favour or against IEBC in any part of the country. We have not been notified as per the law,” he said.

He denied claims by Siaya Senator James Orengo that they had informed police of planned attacks by goons hired by some politicians supporting the commission. This came as tens of anti-riot police were mobilised in major towns to contain planned protests against IEBC, with the organisers insisting they would go on with it.

Other officials said the move by the police was informed by the planned UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) meeting that took off yesterday. The meeting will run up to Friday, May 27, at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Gigiri.

Nairobi police boss Japheth Koome said they had enhanced security in the city as the more than 3,000 delegates arrived for the event.