Mombasa Speaker, MCA and 15 others arrested in Cord demos

Mombasa Speaker, MCA and 15 others arrested in Cord demos

What you need to know:

  • The Nation learnt that they were released later in the evening following Mr Joho's intervention.
  • And upon his arrival, Mr Joho condemned the police for lobbing teargas canisters at the demonstrators.
  • The leaders then handed the petition to the IEBC Mvita branch coordinator Nuru Maftah.
  • Jubilee supporters condemned the Mombasa demonstrations saying they were uncalled for.

Mombasa County Assembly Speaker Thadius Rajwayi, a ward representative and about 15 other people were Monday morning arrested as Opposition supporters in joined protests called by Cord.

This was the first time for the demos, initiated to force out the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioners, to be staged in Mombasa.

Mr Rajwayi and Junda MCA Paul Onje were arrested in the morning at Uhuru Gardens soon after armed police dispersed demonstrators at around 10am.

The two had led the protesters ahead of ODM deputy party leader Hassan Joho’s arrival.

Mombasa Urban OCPD Lucas Ogara confirmed the arrests.

The Nation learnt that they were released later in the evening following Mr Joho's intervention.

The demonstrators had gathered at Uhuru Gardens from 9am only to find more than 100 armed officers from the regular, Administration Police and Prison officers waiting.

A motorist is caught up in tear gas smoke along Moi Avenue in Mombasa on May 23, 2016 as police disperse anti-IEBC protestors. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

DISPERSED USING TEAR GAS

However, about 30 minutes later, police dispersed the protesters using tear gas.

This brought businesses along Moi Avenue to a standstill for the better part of the morning.

And upon his arrival, Mr Joho condemned the police for lobbing teargas canisters at the demonstrators.

“We are all Kenyans and we have the right to demonstrate peacefully, we are urging the police to escort us as we march to the IEBC offices so that we can present our petition peacefully,” said Mr Joho while addressing the protesters.

He, however, asked the protestors to do so peacefully and guard against destroying property.

Mr Joho in company of MPs Abdullswamad Sheriff (Mvita), Rashid Bedzimba (Kisauni), Badi Twalib (Jomvu) and Mishi Juma (Mombasa Woman Rep) managed to out-manoeuvre the police and started dancing as they marched to the IEBC offices in Mvita Constituency, near Makadara Grounds in Mombasa town.

They found the office guarded by about 20 armed police officers.

The leaders then handed the petition to the IEBC Mvita branch coordinator Nuru Maftah through the entrance after which Mr Joho asked the protesters to go about their businesses.

Anti-riot police guard IEBC offices in Makadara, Mombasa on May 23, 2016 where Governor Ali Hassan Joho delivered a protest letter. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

RETURN TO THE STREETS

He said they would return to the streets next Monday for a similar demo.

“It will be bigger than what we had today,’’ Mr Joho said.

Jubilee supporters condemned the Mombasa demonstrations saying they were uncalled for especially at a time when the Coast counties were looking to improve the economy following a down-turn in tourism due to terror attacks.

Mr Suleiman Shabhal, Governor Joho’s political rival, condemned the protests as illegal, uncalled for and hypocritical.

“It is hypocritical for Cord to demand the removal of IEBC commissioners when they practically own IEBC at the Coast,’’ said Mr Shabhal who lost to Mr Joho in the 2013 elections.

SUPPORTS DIALOGUE

At the same time, Haki Afrika, a Mombasa-based human rights group said it supported dialogue, negotiations and discussions to end the IEBC stalemate.

“While we appreciate that every Kenyan has the right under Article 37 of the Constitution to peacefully demonstrate, picket and present petitions to public officials, we also urge that we consider dialogue as a viable option,’’ said executive director Hussein Khalid.

In a statement, Mr Khalid said the IEBC stalemate had reached a level where people and institutions of goodwill needed to come together and help reach an amicable solution and offered to mediate in dialogue over electoral reforms.

Mr Crispus Waithaka, the chairman of the Gema community in Mombasa asked Mr Joho to consider the economic losses that Mombasa businesses have undergone from insecurity saying they should be given time to recover.

“We would like to remind the governor that Mombasa is a tourist destination and security guarantee is paramount for foreign and local investors,’’ Mr Waithaka said in a statement.