1st LD Writethru-Roundup: Kenya's opposition leaders stage anti-electoral body protests

Kenya's opposition leaders and their supporters on Monday held street protesters in Nairobi and other parts of the East African nation to press for the removal of top officials at the electoral body.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, ex-Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula, former foreign affairs minister led their supporters in peaceful protests outside the offices of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) calling for the commissioners' exit.

Other protests took place in major towns such as in the coastal city of Mombasa and lakeside city of Kisumu which witnessed some brief violence with the police.

The demonstrators however got into trouble with the hundreds of anti-riot police officers who had been deployed to guard the IEBC headquarters in Nairobi when they started hurling stones at police officers.

Several shops were closed in the Nairobi city amid fears of looting by the opposition supporters who briefly engaged anti-riot police in running battles in some parts of the central business district.

The opposition leaders later addressed their supporters vowing to continue pushing for removal of IEBC Commissioners by staging similar protests every Monday.

Odinga maintained that he would not participate in 2017 election if the current electoral body will not be reconstituted.

"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," Odinga said.

Cord, or Coalition for Reforms and Democracy, is currently the official opposition party in Kenya.

The opposition leader maintained that the protests will take place until the commissioners, led by chairman Issack Hassan, are sent home permanently.

"We cannot keep quiet as one sharpens a dagger to harm us. We will continue with anti-IEBC protests until Isaac Hassan and his team of commissioners leave office," he added.

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.

"We will not get tired. We will sustain the protests until the commissioners go home. IEBC must go," protesters shouted before police dispersed them by firing tear gas and water cannon.

In Kisumu, the protesters waved twigs while others carried a banner reading 'IEBC must go!', but they were later dispersed by police.

The opposition leaders had urged its supporters countrywide to rally in large numbers and protest against IEBC, citing unfairness within the body while dispensing its duties.

Nairobi County Police Commander Japheth Koome warned the Opposition and their supporters against causing chaos in the city by way of their "illegal" demonstrations.

Koome told journalists in Nairobi that the police will not hesitate to arrest anyone who does not maintain peace.

"We are aware that some of the demonstrators even have weapons and others are drunk. They should be warned that anyone found breaking the law will be arrested," he said.

He said the opposition leaders did not inform the police about the planned demonstration in Nairobi "but we are assuring Kenyans that their security is guaranteed and that there will not be any unnecessary disruptions."

There was heavy presence of police guarding the offices with anti-riot gears and Dog Unit officers and water cannons deployed to avert any chaos.

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