Gunshots, teargas as police intensify election patrols in Nairobi

26 October, 2017 | Filed under: All News,more news,Opinion,RECENT POSTS,Somali news | Posted by:

Anti-riot officers watched from strategic locations and patrolled around polling stations during the exercise that Opposition supporters have largely ignored.

In Kibera, they chased after residents who burned tyres and blocked roads in a show of support for NASA leader Raila Odinga who was President Uhuru Kenyatta’s main rival.

Raila and his running mate Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) pulled out saying IEBC was incapable of ensuring a free, fair and credible process.

The protesters barricaded roads leading into the shanty estate that hosts some of the biggest polling stations such as Olympic Primary School and old Olympic.

Gunshots were heard from a distance as police dispersed crowds so others could vote.

More on this: Kibera residents burn tyres, block roads to prevent voting

Embakasi North MP James Gakuya praised security agencies for measures to maintain peace in Dandora.

Residents of Kibera in Nairobi run for safety after police fired teargas to disperse NASA supporters, October 26, 2017. /MONICAH MWANGI
Residents of Kibera in Nairobi run for safety after police fired teargas to disperse NASA supporters, October 26, 2017. /MONICAH MWANGI
Gakuya reported that no violence had been witnessed despite the classification of the area as a hot spot.

The MP was also happy with the voter turnout and said they expected voting would end at 2pm.

We have teams on the ground, mobilising people to vote. We have vehicles ferrying the old, sick and disabled to polling stations,” said the legislator who voted at Dandora I Primary School.

There were long queues at the station and others in the constituency, including those at Ronald Ngala Primary and James Gichuru primary and Dandora Girls’ Secondary schools.

In Kawangware, bonfires were lit but police dispersed demonstrators.

Voter turnout at Mathare constituency stood at 20 per cent at 10 am.

In Kisumu, which has been described as “firmly shut”, with no election activity, looting was reported at a shop at Kibuye market.

The allegation was raised against four officers of the GSU and the Kisumu dog unit.

Reports indicated they stormed in, lobbed teargas canisters to scare attendants and then stole food and money

The attendants said they and customers scampered for safety as the officers also fired live bullets.

Read: Police fire tear gas, live bullets at pro-NASA youths in Kisumu

Also read: Kisumu ‘firmly shut’ as NASA supporters, IEBC officials keep off election

 Source:.the-star.co.ke