Cord protesters stopped from reaching IEBC offices

A police vehicle sprays water to a convoy of vehicles carrying Cord leaders and their supporters as they protested against the IEBC on University Way in Nairobi on May 23, 2016. PHOTO | JEFF ANGOTE | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The MPs, who were in a convoy of their vehicles, overlapped and used the wrong side along Valley Road, after initially walking briefly from their offices.

  • They ended up on Haile Salassie Avenue, and it was on reaching the Technical University of Kenya that police lobbed tear gas at them.

  • Some quickly jumped into their vehicles, drove over kerbs and made wrong turns, amid clouds of tear gas.

Cord leaders were on Monday repulsed twice by anti-riot police officers and did not make it to the electoral commission headquarters in Nairobi.

It was only after a dozen MPs were joined by Cord principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula as well as Kanu Secretary-General Nick Salat that they got close to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices on University Way.

At around noon, before Mr Odinga arrived from South Africa — a group of Cord lawmakers, including ODM chairman John Mbadi, Seme MP James Nyikal and his Ruaraka counterpart, Mr Tom Kajwang, Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga and Senator Moses Kajwang — tried to get into the city from the Cord offices at Capitol Hill, but were repulsed twice.

USED WRONG SIDE

The MPs, who were in a convoy of their vehicles, overlapped and used the wrong side along Valley Road, after initially walking briefly from their offices.

They ended up on Haile Salassie Avenue, and it was on reaching the Technical University of Kenya that police lobbed tear gas at them.

Some quickly jumped into their vehicles, drove over kerbs and made wrong turns, amid clouds of tear gas.

They finally found themselves on City Hall Way, marching towards the IEBC headquarters, but on reaching Mama Ngina Street, their efforts were again blocked by the police with tear gas.

Around 3pm, Capitol Hill was a beehive of activity, with the Cord principals, Siaya Senator James Orengo and his Machakos counterpart, Mr Johnson Muthama, present.

More vehicles had been mobilised, and it was clear an attempt had to be made to occupy the IEBC offices.

The convoy sped through Harambee Avenue, with the police appearing to have been caught off-guard.

An attempt to throw tear gas at the back of the convoy was met with defiance.

It was on reaching University Way that signs that the team would be dispersed became apparent, as hordes of police officers stood at the end of the street.