Two killed as police disperse NASA supporters

Policemen spray water to disperse supporters of Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga in Nairobi, Kenya November 17, 2017. REUTERS/
Policemen spray water to disperse supporters of Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga in Nairobi, Kenya November 17, 2017. REUTERS/

Two people were killed on Friday as

police tried to disperse supporters cheering a convoy carrying opposition leader Raila Odinga from the airport to central Nairobi, a Reuters photographer said.

Police fired tear gas at the convoy and used water cannon as they tried to stop it reaching the capital's main business district, live footage on

Kenyan TV showed. Some protesters threw stones at police. TV footage showed two vehicles on fire.

The deaths occurred as police and protesters fought on one of the main roads leading to the business district, the photographer said. Police spokesmen did not immediately respond to phone calls.

But Mwenda Njoka, the interior ministry spokesman, said he could not confirm the casualties, accusing the opposition supporters of blocking roads, burning vehicles and looting businesses along the route.

"When the people are so unruly, you expect police to react to use reasonable force to get them out of the way," he told Reuters.

Raila has called for a National Resistance Movement to protest against the outcome of a repeat presidential election last month which saw President Uhuru

Kenyatta win a second, five-year term with 98 per cent of the vote.

Raila boycotted the vote and only 39 per cent of registered voters took part.

The repeat poll was ordered by the Supreme Court after it annulled the results of the August election, won by

Uhuru, over procedural irregularities.

In what is seen as the last chance for legal scrutiny of the vote, the court will rule on Monday on cases that seek to nullify the rerun election.

The political crisis has stirred fears for the stability of the east African nation, a regional hub for trade, diplomacy and security.

Earlier on Friday, demonstrators threw up burning barricades on Mombasa Road, the highway that links Nairobi's downtown business district and the airport.

Raila returned to

Kenya

on Friday from a trip to the United States.

Despite a partial police ban on protests in the capital, hundreds of people had gathered in the morning near Jomo

Kenyatta International Airport to await Raila's return. Police fired into the air to disperse them, a Reuters photographer said.

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Once the ODM leader landed, motorcycle taxi drivers and people on foot shouted their support as the motorcade, which included lawmakers from the opposition coalition, began moving toward central Nairobi.

In Monday's Supreme Court rulings, judges could order a fresh vote or clear the way for the incumbent to be sworn in for his second term. If the election is upheld,

Uhuru

will be sworn in on November 28.

Dozens of international flights depart and arrive daily at Nairobi's main airport. The national airport authority said on Twitter just before midday that operations were running normally.

Kenya's prolonged election season has disrupted its economy. Human rights groups say at least 66 people have died in bloodshed surrounding the two elections.

Ahead of Monday's Supreme Court ruling,

Kenya

Airways' chairman told an investor briefing on Friday: "Hopefully we don’t have another presidential election so we can get on with life."

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