Roundup: One dead, scores injured in anti-electoral body protests in Kenya

One person was killed and scores injured in Kenya during countrywide protests to press for the removal of the top electoral body, officials and witnesses said on Monday.

The security officers fired teargas and beat opposition protesters in the capital Nairobi and other counties with truncheons during the demonstrations called by opposition leaders to press for the removal of Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC)'s top officials.

Witnesses confirmed one person was killed in Kisumu in western Kenya after anti-riot police officers beat up the opposition supporter on the head, leaving him dead.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that one of the victims, who had been rushed to the hospital, succumbed to serious head injuries while the others were taken to the county hospital.

A number of businesses in the central business district of the lakeside city, Kakamega and Siaya counties in western Kenya which is the stronghold of the opposition leaders remained closed as police lobbed teargas to disperse the protestors.

Two opposition supporters were shot while several injured by the police during anti-IEBC protests in Siaya. Reports say the two succumbed to gunshot injuries.

Reports of police using live bullets were also reported in Kisumu, Kakamega and the coastal city of Mombasa where scores of people sustained gunshot injuries. The hospital said the man who succumbed to injuries may have been hit with a blunt object.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga and their supporters have vowed to continue with anti-IEBC protests every Mondays to force the commissioners out of office.

The government had mobilized police officers to guard the IEBC offices ahead of the planned CORD protest. The officers were under instructions not to allow any protester near the premises.

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

Kakamega County Senator Dr Bonny Khalwale, a vocal opposition leader, was arrested while leading demonstrations in Kakamega County. Khalwale was taken to police custody as police lobbed teargas to disperse demonstrators.

In Nairobi, the protesters engaged police in running battles along Nairobi streets with the police saying they will not allow any protesters around the Anniversary Towers, the IEBC headquarters.

The situation was tense in the city centre with police lobbying teargas to disband CORD supporters even before their leaders - Prime Minister Raila Odinga, ex-Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and former foreign affairs Minister Moses Wetangula.

Some businesses in the city centre remained closed as traders feared looting by the opposition supporters like it happened last week. There were no ugly incidents within the city centre.

However, some unrest ensued in the Kibera slums with rowdy youth vandalizing the ruling National Alliance (TNA) offices and lighting fires along the roads to show solidarity with their colleagues who were on the streets.

Several other protesters have also been injured in the slums during confrontations with the police. The incident annoyed the protesters who lit bonfires and threw stones at the police.

They waved placards written "IEBC must go" as they engaged the police in running battles while in return, the anti-riot police lobbed tear gas canisters on Kibera protesters as they tried to march towards the city centre.

In Nakuru, tension remained high as the police arrested several protesters. Witnesses said the police were searching for a local leader who was leading the protests to eject IEBC commissioners from office.

The Mombasa County Assembly Speaker including some local leaders were among ten people arrested during the anti-IEBC march in the coastal city of Mombasa.

The confrontation ensued between the demonstrators and the police in the tourism resort city with the earlier saying that the protests can only proceed without any cases of violence.

The demonstrators had assembled at the Mombasa's central park as early as 7 a.m. ready for the anti-IEBC protests that aim at forcing the commissioners to resign. Anti-riot police officers were also deployed in the coastal city to deal with any eventuality.

Police in ant-riot gear patrolled the streets while businesses stayed closed for fear of looting. It is the fourth running week of the protests called by the opposition to remove IEBC commissioners from office. Endit