NASA supporters and leaders have staged anti-IEBC demos countrywide, calling for the reforms in the electoral body before fresh polls. NASA presidential candidate, in a press address last week, said peaceful demonstrations will be held on Monday and Friday of every week. In Nairobi, demonstrators gathered early as security was tightened and some few roads were cordoned off as crowds were kept under watch.
Anti-riot police officers were also keeping watch at Anniversary towers where IEBC officers are situated. Some of the demonstrators said impostors were trying to frustrate their efforts, even though they were not fruitful, “I would like to reveal that there are Mungiki members who are posing as police officers, two of them, who are frustrating our efforts to demonstrate,” said one of the demonstrators, “We shall demonstrate whether Jubilee like it or not, the more they try to frustrate our efforts the more we will demonstrate.”
In Kakamega, police officers camped outside Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala’s home and he couldn’t take part in the demos. NASA leaders condemned the move. However, former Senator Bonny Khalwale led the demonstrations, as police hurled canisters at a group gathered outside Kakamega County headquarters, forcing them to disperse.
In Kisumu, police chases started early. Shops remained closed for most of the day as businesses were affected. The demonstrations were also witnessed in Mombasa, Siaya, and other parts of the country, on what was the first official day of demonstrations since the statement by NASA leader Raila Odinga.