Anderson Ojwang' And Osinde Obare
17 January 2008
Nairobi — Thousands of ODM supporters defied General Service Unit police officers and held a peaceful and successful demonstration in Eldoret town.
They took control of the town for more than three hours before police opened fire and dispersed them violently.
A demonstrator chanted: "We will continue to demonstrate until we get our rights. We will remain peaceful and no looting will take place during our protest. We voted for Raila Odinga but we were robbed."
Carrying placards and waving twigs, the demonstrators entered the town centre from three routes.
They converged near the district hospital on their way to the 64 Stadium, the venue of the planned rally.
Among the demonstrators were women with babies strapped on their backs, children, old women and men who walked from the outskirts of the town singing war songs and in praise of ODM leaders.
They marched on Uganda Road and other streets in the town centre under police escort and were addressed by their leader, former nominated councillor, Mr Faruk Teigut.
Speaking to the demonstrators, Faruk said they would remain peaceful and avoid looting.
Police kept vigil as the demonstrators marched for two kilometres to meet other protesters from Chepterit.
Before police dispersed them, traffic flow was normal and some businesses were operating.
Meanwhile, ODM supporters erected roadblocks on the Kapenguria-Lodwar road, a key route to Southern Sudan, and paralysed transport for several hours.
The group of about 800 members used logs and huge stones to block motorists heading to Lodwar and Lokichoggio.
Lorry drivers carrying relief supplies destined for the Kakuma Refugee Camp and Southern Sudan were stranded and only riot police rescued them.
Police later chased away the supporters and unblocked the road to allow free movement of vehicles.
More than 100 armed police officers sealed off Makutano Stadium in Kapenguria, a venue where a rally was to be held.
Opposition supporters demanded the resignation of President Kibaki. Carrying placards and twigs, the protesters chanted that ODM leader, Mr Raila Odinga, won the election.
Businesses remained closed and the streets were full of armed police officers to stop demonstrators from looting.
Riot police, led by the OCPD, Mr David Wambua, watched as the demonstrators marched and blocked them from entering the stadium.
In Kitale, police sealed off Kenyatta Stadium and blocked a handful of opposition supporters.
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