Roundup: Kenyan police teargas opposition leaders over plans to disband poll body

Kenyan police on Monday lobbed tear gas canisters at opposition leaders led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga to prevent them from storming the offices of the electoral body in Nairobi.

The opposition leaders and their supporters were protesting outside the offices of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) calling for the commissioners' exit.

Odinga had earlier accused the government and the IEBC of being against reforms for a democratic electoral system, arguing that changes being pushed by the Opposition are aimed at reflecting the will of members of the public.

Odinga, former vice-president Kalonzo Musyoka and a group of former ministers scampered for safety when the police officers lobbed teargas canisters at them and the huge crowd that had gathered at the IEBC headquarters.

"Three years after an election characterized by missing forms and ever-shifting numbers in the voter register, virtually nothing is going on. We are being told to sit back and wait for a miracle," Odinga said.

Nairobi County police commander Japheth Koome had earlier warned that the planned protest would not be allowed, asking the organizers to seek alternative avenues to resolve their dispute.

"The protests will not be allowed and we will use all means possible to stop it. Why are they going there? They should instead seek alternative channels to air their grievances and not disrupt activities in town," Koome said.

Several police officers who had been mobilized to guard the IEBC offices ahead of the planned protest, were under instructions not to allow any protester near the premises.

Odinga had said Kenyans have noted with concern the "silence, secrecy, denial and general incompetence" of the IEBC, adding that only 16 months are left to the August 2017 general election.

"If Kenyans are asked whether they know any concrete steps being taken by the IEBC to prepare for the polls, the honest answer will be 'no'," said Raila.

However, IEBC commissioners said they will not bow to pressure by the opposition to resign and called on the opposition leaders to observe the rule of law in addressing the issue.

"The Commission will not be manipulated or intimidated or succumb to pressure in the performance of its mandate. It will hold steadfast to the law and render fair and just decisions," the IEBC said in the statement.

The opposition has been calling for the disbandment of IEBC over alleged corruption and bias and the current standoff which resulted from the IEBC's rejection of the signatures for a constitutional referendum. Enditem