Cord supporters defy govt order, storm IEBC offices

Cord supporters on Monday defied government warnings and turned up for their protests seeking to kick out IEBC commissioners from office, with police officers deployed to guard the electoral body’s premises.

Opposition leaders Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetang’ula marshalled their supporters in street demos in Nairobi despite a heavy presence of armed police officers deployed at Anniversary Towers, the building that houses IEBC’s head office.

“We are here to say IEBC must go. We are here peacefully and police should not throw tear gas at us,” Wiper leader Musyoka said as he addressed the crowd.

Mr Musyoka accused the electoral commission of planning to steal next year’s elections in favour of Jubilee, alleging that people under the age of 18 in Jubilee strongholds are being given ID Cards to allow them to register as voters.

“We are here to tell Kenyans and the whole world that Cord is not a criminal outfit. We love peace and we will hold peaceful demonstrations,” ODM leader Raila Odinga said.

Mr Odinga pointed an accusing finger at the Jubilee administration, accusing it of killing businessman Jacob Juma.

He linked Mr Juma’s murder to the Eurobond saga, saying he (Juma) had a lot of incriminating information on how the billions borrowed were stolen.

Mr Odinga said Mr Juma was killed by the Flying Squad in what he called a political assassination.

“We cannot keep quiet as one sharpens a dagger to harm us. Issack Hassan and his team must go home,’ Mr Odinga said.

He also said it was wrong for the government to withdraw security personnel attached to former vice-president Kalonzo Musyoka.

Mr Kalonzo also defended himself against accusations that he went missing during the last demo, saying his security detail covered him when police started throwing tear gas at them.

Water-canon trucks were on standby as anti-riot police waited to jump into action should the demos become violent.

The demonstration later turned chaotic once again after police lobbed teargas canisters and used water cannons to disperse the demonstrators.

The demonstration was characterised by looting and harassment of members of the public by the protestors as they marched on various city streets to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices.

The situation was the same in Kisumu town, where hundreds of Cord supporters showed up for the anti-IEBC protests.

Kisumu Deputy Governor Ruth Odinga led demonstrations against the electoral commission amid tight police security.

Ms Odinga, who joined the protesters at the mid-morning demonstrations, also led a group of county leaders and ward reps in the rally against the IEBC.

The demonstrators, carrying anti-IEBC placards and banners, were, however, blocked from accessing the commission’s offices in Milimani by police officers.

Officers from the quick response team of the Administration Police armed with tear-gas canisters cordoned off the IEBC offices.

Ms Odinga accused the Hassan-led team of taking Kenyans for a ride, saying they would not relent on their quest to kick them out of office.

“Hassan and his team should know that their time is up and leave office. This time we will stop at nothing until we have a credible team to oversee the next elections,” she said.

The protests began in Kondele before moving along the streets of Kisumu.

In Homa Bay town, a contingent of anti-riot police was deployed to block the protesters.

The officers, some armed with AK-47 rifles, started patrols in the town in lorries from as early as 9am.

At the gate leading to the county commissioner's compound, where IEBC offices are located, security was tighter, with officers frisking all visitors.

The presence of the heavily armed officers in Homa Bay town sent shockwaves among the youths.

“Baba osewacho no IEBC nyaka wuogi e ofis. Ka gidwaro kwe to giwuogi (Baba [CORD leader Raila Odinga] has said that IEBC commissioners quit. If they want peace, let them quit,” demonstrating youths said.

Although the demonstrations had not kicked off by 10am as had been directed by members of the “Firimbi” movement, the youths vowed to storm the local IEBC offices before the day ends.

On Sunday, opposition lawmakers, led by Siaya Senator James Orengo and Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, said the demonstrations would be peaceful.

They also said the demos were backed by the courts and urged their supporters not to be intimidated by police presence.

“Our nationwide protest starts today (Monday) as planned and we urge all our supporters to be peaceful and also urge the police to avoid acts of provocation,” said Mr Mohammed, who read a statement on Cord’s behalf during Sunday's press conference at Lilian Towers, Nairobi.

The situation was different in coastal counties, as protests did not take off in five of the six counties. 

In Kwale County, opposition supporters were led by Cord secretary and ODM vice-chairman Nicholas Zani and marched to IEBC offices in Msambweni Sub-County.

But they were stopped from accessing the offices by heavily armed police officers led by Msambweni OCPD Joseph Omijah, who only allowed them to present their memorandum.

The memorandum was received by IEBC assistant Returning Officer Mwamize Achani under the watchful eyes of police officers, who protected her from any possible attack.

“For any credible election to be conducted the Issack Hassan-led commission must be disbanded and a new one constituted to conduct a free and fair election in 2017,” said Mr Zani.

The sentiments were backed by Kwale County Assembly Majority Leader Nassoro Mguttah, Gombato/Bongwe Ward Rep Omar Boga and Mwereni Ward Rep Kassim Pojjo.

At the same time, Sheikh Amir Banda hit out at IEBC chairman Hassan to resign to avoid chaos.

He cautioned Mr Hassan, saying that should any acts of violence take place as a result of his refusal to leave office, he would automatically carry the responsibility not only today but forever.

“As a religious leader, I would like to urge Mr Hassan to take this issue very seriously because even when an imam is denounced from a mosque he has to leave,” he said.

He also attributed the current chaos in Kenya to a failure to follow the Constitution.

Reported by Samuel Karanja, John Njagi, Farouk Mwabege, Silas Apollo and Maurice Kaluoch.