Police issue warning to Nasa protestors in Kisumu over Friday anti-IEBC demos
Government spokesperson has also echoed a warning that…
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Area police boss Mr Titus Yoma on Thursday warned Nasa protestors who are planning to cause mayhem that the police with respond will full force.
The warning by Mr Yoma comes in the wake of sharp criticism, after police allegedly used excessive force to quell the Nasa anti-IEBC protests in Kisumu, which also led to the death of one person in neighbouring Siaya County in a stampede.
“Last Friday there were demonstrations and not even a single teargas was used because the demonstrations were peaceful. The force that was used by police on Monday was equal to the one the protesters brought forward,” Mr Yoma said.
The heavy police presence in Kisumu since Tuesday, sources indicate, has led to the arrest of six people who were allegedly planning violent protests.
The planning of violent demos, it emerges, contradicts an earlier plea by Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga, who urged his supporters to “carry a white piece of cloth and march to the IEBC offices and seek audience from the IEBC.”
Commenting on the Monday demos, Mr Yoma termed the protest as the most violent he has ever seen. He added that he did not receive any notice of planned demonstrations, hence the effort to disperse the “illegal gathering.”
Kisumu County leaders, however, have vowed to do the same thing on Friday and subsequent days without alerting the service. However, Muhoroni Constituency lawmaker Mr Onyango K’oyoo urged their supporters not to destroy anything during the demo.
Nasa presidential candidate Raila Odinga resolved to mass action to force IEBC CEO Ezra Chiloba and 11 other key officials at the Wafula Chebukati led IEBC after the Supreme Court annulled President Uhuru Kenyatta’s victory on September 1.
On Thursday, IEBC resolved to axe five officials, 20 days to the general elections in reediness to the upcoming repeat polls.
Police have been in the recent past accused of lobbying teargas to nursery students in Nyalenda slum of Kisumu County during the anti-IEBC demonstrations on Monday. Police has since denied the claims.
Meanwhile, Government Spokesperson Eric Kiraithe has warned the Nasa team to change tact in approaching controversial issues affecting the nation. Mr Kiraithe told reporters on Thursday that the government will take action against violent protests planned by Nasa.
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