Odinga, his co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Senator Moses Wetangula got into their vehicles and left just as teargas filled the air/COURTESY
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 9 – Anti-riot police on Monday used tear gas and water canon to disperse CORD supporters after they started hurling stones immediately after an address by their leaders, led by Raila Odinga.
Odinga, his co-principals Kalonzo Musyoka and Senator Moses Wetangula got into their vehicles and left just as teargas filled the air.
ODM Chairman John Mbadi led the supporters towards the IEBC offices in an attempt to forcefully enter the building before it turned chaotic.
A section of journalists covering the protest were not spared from the wrath of the anti-riot police either.
The officers who had been strategically positioned, clobbered the journalists who were caught up in the melee despite showing their media cards.
“I was forced to masquerade as one of them (plainclothes officers),” one of the reporters who sought anonymity, told Capital FM News.
Odinga, who was accompanied by his co-principals arrived on Monday afternoon to kick off the protest against the IEBC officials.
Unlike the previous protest, the leaders who sat on the tarmac kept a distance from the IEBC headquarters at Anniversary Towers.
“We shall continue with the protests until the country is reformed,” Musyoka said.
He took time to explain why he did not appear in photographs taken during the previous protest that also turned chaotic.
“It was the plan of Jubilee to brand me as a coward; I will lead the march against IEBC, “he said. “I am not a coward… I only fear God!”
On his part, Odinga said: “We love peace. Ours will be peaceful demonstrations.”
He said their protests against IEBC were a way to express dissatisfaction against how the electoral body was being managed ahead of 2017 General Election.
He vowed to continue leading the protests “until the commissioners vacate office. Jubilee already knows that they cannot win.”
Odinga further insisted that controversial businessman Jacob Juma was assassinated due to his tough stand against graft. “They used the flying squad to kill Juma,” Odinga alleged.
The supporters had arrived in early hours of Monday, unaccompanied by their leaders.
“Referees cannot be players,” some banners they were waving read.
The supporters carried twigs, banners and whistles in protest against the electoral commission, which they want disbanded.
“No dialogue, IEBC must go,” they would be heard shouting.
Though conscious of the requirements of the Constitution, the Opposition leaders say they will pile pressure on the IEBC officials until they resign.
Earlier on, Nairobi Police chief Japheth Koome cautioned the supporters against carrying weapons saying they will be treated as criminals.
“We will not allow a few people to cause violence in the city,” he cautioned.
Koome said the disgruntled Opposition leaders had the right to protest, but peacefully.
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