Cord leaders tear-gassed as they lead supporters to storm IEBC offices

Attempts by Cord leaders and their supporters to storm the electoral commission offices were Monday violently disrupted by police.

Mr Raila Odinga of ODM and his counterparts, Mr Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper and Moses Wetang’ula of Ford Kenya, and their supporters were roughed up by police as they tried to break into the offices of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to present a petition.

Mr Odinga had planned to kick off what Cord had said would be an indefinite occupation of the commission offices to force the chairman, Mr Ahmed Issack Hassan, and eight other commissioners out of office.

The Opposition has said it has no confidence that the commission will deliver a free and fair election next year.

Mr Odinga has demanded that the commission be disbanded and a new team named to replace it.

The Constitution stipulates that for commissioners to be removed from office, anyone dissatisfied with their performance should petition Parliament which would then make a recommendation to the President.

The President would then form a tribunal to investigate the commissioners and act on the findings of the tribunal within 30 days.

(Read: Cord threatens ‘occupy IEBC’ to force out team)

TEAR-GASSED

Monday, Mr Odinga and his colleagues opted to present their petition to IEBC but heavily-armed police officers disrupted the procession by throwing teargas at the leaders and their supporters.

Photos shared on social media showed Mr Odinga being led away from the scene and Mr Wetang’ula seeking refuge in a building, surrounded by supporters, one of who was sharing water to wash his face.

The leaders were whisked away from the chaos by their security as police dispersed their supporters.

“Mr Odinga escaped from the scene unhurt. We have had lunch but we will be back. It is not over yet,” said Suna East MP Junet Mohammed who had accompanied the Opposition politicians.

“We have achieved our mission. But the ultimate goal is to ensure we campaign for total occupation of Anniversary Towers until the commissioners are ejected. It is obvious that we will not go into elections with a commission that is in bed with the government.”

Senators Boni Khalwale (Kakamega), James Orengo (Siaya), Anyang Nyong’o (Kisumu) and Elizabeth Ongoro (nominated) are among those who took part in the protest.

However, Cord MPs stayed away despite having been invited.

Mr Odinga, Mr Wetang’ula and Mr Musyoka first held talks at Mr Odinga’s Capitol Hill offices before joining their supporters at IEBC offices at around noon.

NEW STRATEGIES

After their march was disrupted they retreated to a restaurant in Kilimani for lunch where they announced that they will unveil new strategies on how to engage the commission.

Several Cord supporters were clobbered by police, prompting Dr Khalwale to protest.

However, an officer threw a teargas canister at him and he was led away from the scene by his bodyguard.

“We are not foreigners. This is our country, you are all wrong. Why are you fighting us? Why?” shouted Dr Khalwale. “We came to see the IEBC, we did not come to meet the police. We did not come to meet the government, we came to meet an independent commission. Why is the commission being controlled by the government?”

Earlier in the day, Nairobi County Police Commander Japheth Koome had issued a warning against the march.

“We have all heard news on TV and radio that there are some people planning to storm these offices but we have not been informed by them and anyone who tries to storm the building will be forcefully removed,” he had said.

“There is due process to be followed before people demonstrate and that process was not followed, so this protest is illegal and will not be allowed to disrupt public peace.”