Kisumu youth burn Uhuru banner
A banner with President Uhuru Kenyatta image that was burnt by youth in Kisumu on August 23, 2017. PHOTO | ONDARI OGEGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Police on Wednesday dispersed youth in Kisumu after they chased away workers erecting a banner with President Uhuru Kenyatta’s portrait near Jubilee market.
The youth set the banner on fire before the police lobbed teargas canisters to disperse them as they had blocked Kisumu-Nairobi Road.
Motorists had to divert other alternative routes after the crowd became hostile, chanting ‘Uhuru must go’ and ‘No Raila no peace’.
“We are still hurt, they should wait for the case to be determined first before he is congratulated. All they are doing is provoking us,” said a resident, Mr Zablon Awilo.
A crowd gathered near Jubilee market in Kisumu where youth set on fire a banner bearing President Uhuru Kenyatta's image and chased away workers erecting it on a billboard on August 23, 2017. PHOTO | ONDARI OGEGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Mr John Oketch, another resident said the billboard was meant to provoke National Super Alliance supporters as they await the hearing and ruling of the Supreme Court on an election petition filed by opposition leader Raila Odinga.
"There is a case challenging (President) Uhuru's win in court, why is his banner being placed here yet this region is yet to heal from a denied victory," said Mr Oketch.
Mr Oketch said it was illegal for the banner to be put up while the electoral agency had ordered all campaign material to be pulled down.
“It seems some people are above the law, if they can go against orders by IEBC,” said Mr Oketch.
