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15 CORD supporters arrested as police disperse anti IEBC demo

Police lobbed tear gas canisters and used water cannons to break up the sit just as Senator James Orengo had started addressing them/KEVIN GITAU

Police lobbed tear gas canisters and used water cannons to break up the sit just as Senator James Orengo had started addressing them/KEVIN GITAU

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 16 – At least 15 supporters of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) have been arrested after police dispersed their protest against Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

Several other protesters also sustained injuries during the demonstration outside IEBC offices at Anniversary Towers on the University Way.

“We also confiscated 6 motorbikes,” Central police Chief Paul Wanjama told Capital FM News.

He did not however say whether they will be arraigned in court and over what offence.

Police lobbed tear gas canisters and used water cannons to break up the sit just as Senator James Orengo had started addressing them.

CORD principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula were seated on the tarmac on University Way listening to Orengo when tear gas canisters rained on them.

“Who killed Juma (controversial businessman Jacob Juma)?” it is the question Senator James Orengo, who was by then addressing the protestors, posed.

The next minute; everyone was scampering for safety.

The ambush by police caught the leaders unawares, for some like Senator Elizabeth Ongoro had to be escape into a shop along Moi Avenue.

“Please don’t kill me,” she was heard saying.

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In a change of tact, the cops unlike the previous times were strategically positioned on all perceived exit routes, where protesters normally use to escape.

All this time, a group of supporters would be heard chanting, “Tunataka teargas (We want teargas).”

Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama had earlier issued his statement, largely calling for the disbandment of the electoral body.

“We do not trust them…they have to go for us to have a free and fair election,” the Senator said.

The protest was marred by cases of mugging by a section of opposition supporters targeting innocent members of the public.

“Some just raided a Samsung shop and stole laptops and phones,” an officer, who cannot be named because of his rank, told Capital News.

As earlier cautioned by police, some supporters were carrying stones, which they did not get chance to use.
Nairobi County Commander Japheth Koome had earlier warned opposition leaders against participating in the protest terming it ‘illegal’.

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