09 May 2016•Update: 20 May 2016
By Magdalene Mukami
NAIROBI, Kenya
Thousands of protesters on Monday brought traffic to a standstill in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, demanding the removal of the country’s electoral board.
Led by Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga, the group marched to the headquarters of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IBEC), accusing the body of favoring President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.
There were also reports of major looting in the city’s central business district.
Protesters carried anti-corruption placards, shouting "a people united shall never be defeated".
The Kenyan government has deployed riot police to disperse the protesters. Businesses and major roads leading into the capital have been closed.
Addressing the large group, former Kenyan prime minister Odinga accused Kenyatta’s government of sending people to prepare Biometric Voter Registration kits in Asian countries which will be used to manipulate the 2017 general elections.
“We are tired of election theft; we have gone to court but they have been paid off and our cases thrown out. We defeated Uhuru [Kenyatta] and Ruto [William], if they defeat us fairly then we will accept it,” Odinga said.
“We will no longer be silent, we will not accept until the commission has been disbanded – they know they cannot win, they are trembling because they know this,” he added.
Three weeks ago Odinga was tear-gassed together with his supporters after storming the IBEC offices.
Kenyans on social media have called for peace, saying that if the demonstrations go on then Kenya will fall into violence like it did after the 2007-2008 general elections.
