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Raila leads ‘peaceful’ anti-IEBC demo in Nairobi as police stay away

The group took to the streets after the High Court earlier in the day declined to stop the protests against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, instead ordering police to provide them with security/CFM

The group took to the streets after the High Court earlier in the day declined to stop the protests against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, instead ordering police to provide them with security/CFM

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 6 – CORD leader Raila Odinga Monday afternoon led protests on the city streets accompanied by Senators Moses Wetangula, James Orengo and KANU Secretary General Nick Salat among other leaders.

Contrary to previous demonstrations where they were confronted and stopped by police, the group was allowed to march through Kenyatta Avenue and headed to Anniversary Towers and later proceeded to Uhuru Highway without any incident.

The group took to the streets after the High Court earlier in the day declined to stop the protests against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, instead ordering police to provide them with security.

Justice Joseph Onguto ruled that the demonstrators are exercising their democratic right under the Constitution and must be allowed to picket.

He made the ruling in a case lodged by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and four other Jubilee legislators who had wanted the protests stopped.

The judge said he was not convinced that the demonstrations constitute an illegality on grounds that they are causing an inconvenience to the general public.

“They are within their rights to picket, demonstrate and express their opinions. The police are therefore required not to abdicate their duty and should ensure law and order is maintained,’’ the judge declared.

According to the MPs, the move by the CORD is in violation of the Constitution to the extent that they are seeking to unlawfully force the IEBC commissioners to leave office prematurely.

It is their argument that the opposition and others who may be seeking the ouster of IEBC commissioners are unequivocally bound by Article 91 of the Constitution as Political Parties not to engage in acts of sabotage of the Constitution.

However in Kisumu, things were different as the demonstrators became rowdy leading to deaths of at least two people. Shops were also broken into and goods worth thousands of shillings stolen as other property were destroyed forcing police to shoot in the air to protect shop owners.

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