'Raila said no election': Supporters storm IEBC training in Migori, Siaya

Police officers at Lion Simba hotel in Migori town after dispersing a crowd that tried to disperse an IEBC training, October 17, 2017. /MANUEL ODENY
Police officers at Lion Simba hotel in Migori town after dispersing a crowd that tried to disperse an IEBC training, October 17, 2017. /MANUEL ODENY

Migori police were forced to fire several shots in the air on Tuesday to disperse a crowd that tried to chase IEBC officials from an elections training.

A group chanting "No Reforms! No Election" stormed

Lion Simba Hotel in Migori town and started throwing stones at the facility.

Some of the protesters tried scaling walls around the establishment before officers arrived and fired live bullets.

Police were called by the officials and managers of the hotel.

Suna East returning officer Bernard Okemo said the four-day training began today.

"We have arranged for enough security at the venue," Okemo said adding they expected about 201

presiding officers and their deputies but that 97 did not turn up.

"We will call the others to find out why they did not turn up but we have security at the venue."

On Monday and Tuesday, youths on social media threatened to attack training venues for IEBC in all eight constituencies in the county.

Okemo said

police will have to offer more security to ensure the October 26 presidential election goes on. He noted the nature of protests against IEBC in Migori and other parts, where several have been killed and others injured.

"We need extra security in this part of the country."

'BABA SAID THERE WILL BE NO ELECTION'

In Siaya county,

IEBC trainees were smoked out of training in Bondo, Gem, Ugunja and Alego Usonga by irate youths who said they have gone against Raila Odinga's wish.

The Opposition chief, fondly referred to as Baba (father), and his running mate withdrew from the election saying IEBC must meet their demands.

They do not want Al Ghurair to print ballots and IEBC chief Ezra Chiloba to be part of the team manning Raila's repeat race against President Uhuru Kenyatta. They have made others demands concerning results transmission.

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Bondo returning officer John Matekwa said they were forced to push the training indefinitely.

"POs and the DPOs had just reported for the training when a group of rowdy youths, armed with machetes and other crude weapons, came for them."

Matekwa said some police officers

sustained minor injuries and that the crowd smashed windows.

In Alego Usonga, police managed to deter youths from accessing Siaya Agricultural Training Centre. But some IEBC officials left saying they did not feel safe.

But Matekwa said: "The political wing has assured our training will not be affected."

Still, he noted "It is "only fair to call off the training

due to insecurity and uncertainty in the region".

Bondo deputy county commissioner Richard Ajwang described the ambush as "an act of thuggery".

Ajwang said his team began investigations and identified a person suspected to have been the protesters' leader.

He denied reports police were not at the venue because IEBC did not pay them after the August 8 general election.

Ajwang said six armed police officers were supposed to be at the venue early in the morning but that they were delayed.

"I know some of the officers are yet to be paid for the last exercise but that is not the reason why they were not at the venue."

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