Odhiambo Orlale, Cosmas Butunyi, John Onyango and Wilfred Muchire
17 January 2008
Nairobi — ODM will push on with the quest for peaceful countrywide demonstrations until their demands are met, according to party leader Raila Odinga.
Mr Odinga said Wednesday they would not be cowed by the presence of armed security personnel at Nairobi's Uhuru Park, where they had planned to hold a rally, and the other 40 venues in major towns.
The historic venue has been cordoned off by police for the past two weeks since Mr Mwai Kibaki was declared President in disputed elections.
ODM supporters have been staging protests arguing that the elections had been rigged in favour of Mr Kibaki. ECK has admitted anomalies in the tallying of the presidential results.
Opposition leaders and election observers also cited differences in some of the final results and those read out at constituencies.
On Wednesday, Mr Odinga told an international Press conference at Orange House, Nairobi, that their supporters across the country were ready for mass action.
The ODM leader, who was with Pentagon members William Ruto, Najib Balala, Charity Ngilu and Joseph Nyaga, said the current political crisis was due to the disputed presidential election.
He maintained that President Kibaki, who had stood on a PNU ticket, was in office illegally.
"This Government has no credibility; that is why it has deployed a large number of armed policemen throughout the country to stop our peaceful rallies," the Lang'ata MP said.
Mr Odinga said riot police were being used to block ODM supporters from attending rallies in the 40 venues selected for the three-day mass action.
"Why do people have elections? It is to change or confirm those in leadership. Kenyans voted for us to be in leadership; why negotiate with people we defeated at the polls?" Mr Odinga asked.
However, he was optimistic that international mediation efforts would bear fruit.
In Kisumu, a man was shot dead as police dispersed protesters, bringing the death toll to 65 since the protests began.
More than 200 people have been treated for bullet wounds at Nyanza Provincial Hospital alone. Two others were admitted to the provincial hospital Wednesday, after they were clobbered by riot police.
The medical superintendent, Dr Juliana Otieno, said the man died on arrival at the hospital'.
Intimidating supporters
Many groups have condemned the use of live bullets on demonstrators.
In Siaya, a pupil was shot in the leg as police battled with rioters at Akala market.
And in Bungoma, party activist Wafula Buke was among scores arrested for taking part in the demonstrations.
The ODM demonstration in President Kibaki's Nyeri home turf flopped.
Police officers, however, patrolled Nyeri's Ruring'u stadium, the advertised venue of the rally to prevent ODM supporters from getting in.
Scores of heavily armed regular and Administration police officers manned the closed, and only gate to the stadium, while others patrolled the grounds.
An Othaya parliamentary seat loser, Mr Maina Kahihia, who had vowed to lead the meeting, accused the police of intimidating ODM supporters across the country by cordoning off the venues.
Mr Kahihia said police instructed Agricultural Society of Kenya - the custodians of the stadium - not to open the gates for the protesters.
He said they would regroup again Thursday and Friday for the rallies. He spoke outside the stadium.
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There is nothing like peaceful demonstration if what we are witnessing in Kenya is anything to go by. Armed goon in the name of ODM faithfuls are burning homes, churches, hospitals, schools, banks, petrol stations, vehicles, everything. The same group is raping women as well as looting. Its the work of the Kenya Police to protect its citizens because i believe these goons (who are mainly young men) are out to commit criminal activities. The media should focus their attention to the group rather than to the police who are working overtime to protect the hardworking and peace loving… [Read Full Text]
I do not think that Mr. Raila and his ODM members are interested with the welfare of kenyans.
They call it peaceful demonstration but what we see on Live television is a bunch of young men running around with all kinds of weapons trying to disturb the peace of the innocent Kenyans.The police did not burn children and women but the so called "ODM peaceful demonsrators did".
Some of them even throw stones at the police men who are just doing their Job to keep peace. Do they have to provoke the Police men.
I think the international commnunity should… [Read Full Text]
By now it's clear that there's bad blood and ill faith between the two polaristic forces behind Kenya's current post-election turmoil: Mr. Kibaki and Mr. Odinga. And, given the degree of obstinacy both have exhibited to date, there isn't much hope for a return to peace and normality in the country in the near future.
What ODM is calling "peaceful demonstrations" are not in the real sense peaceful. Right from the word go, ODM's demonstrations have been characterized by waste of human life, targeting Kikuyus and other tribes deemed to be sympathetic to the cause of Kibaki, as well as… [Read Full Text]