AMN
At least three opposition protesters died from gunshot wounds on Thursday during clashes with police after polls opened in Kenya’s contentious rerun of a presidential election annulled by the country’s top court in September.
Calling it a “sham election,” Kenya’s opposition leader urged supporters to boycott the vote and refrain from protesting amid fears of violence.
Kenya’s electoral chief Wafula Chebukati said voting in four counties will be postponed until Saturday due to violence, including Kisumu, Homa Bay, Migori and Siaya.
Police clashed with protesters in several opposition strongholds, including Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu, where demonstrators reportedly set fires, blocked roads and thrown stones. However, national police chief Joseph Boinnet told reporters that security forces’ actions did not amount to a crackdown.
“We don’t use excessive force. In every situation we respond to the breakdown of law and order, our response has always been proportionate and measured,” Boinnet said.
Turnout appeared significantly lower compared to August’s election, which witnessed nearly 80 percent turnout, according to local media.
“We should be seeing a very huge crowd lining up to vote, but on the contrary, today the polling station isn’t very busy,” a polling agent told DW in Nairobi.
Although all the names of the candidates from the August vote remain on the ballot papers, the main opposition challenger, Raila Odinga has called for a “national resistance movement” to boycott the election.
“Do not participate in any way in the sham election,” Odinga told a rally in central Nairobi. “Convince your friends, neighbors and everyone else not to participate.” He called for a rerun election governed by a new, reformed electoral commission within 90 days.
Supporters of Kenya’s opposition clashed with police in several parts of the country, prompting fears of widespread political violence- DW-