Kenyan police fire teargas at opposition protesters

National Super Alliance (NASA) supporters are dispersed by police during a demonstration in Nairobi, capital of Kenya. Picture: Xinhua/Charles Onyango

National Super Alliance (NASA) supporters are dispersed by police during a demonstration in Nairobi, capital of Kenya. Picture: Xinhua/Charles Onyango

Published Oct 2, 2017

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Nairobi - Police fired tear gas at

opposition supporters in the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Monday

who were calling for officials they blame for last month's

botched presidential elections to be sacked, Reuters witnesses

said.

A re-run is due to be held October 26 after the Supreme Court

voided the August 8 vote due to irregularities. The court

criticised election the board on procedural grounds but did not

find any individual at the board responsible.

Police also fired teargas to disperse protesters in the

western city of Kisumu, according to another Reuters witness. At

least 28 people were killed in unrest following last month's

vote.

Whether the re-run will go ahead as planned looks

increasingly uncertain as the parties of the two candidates,

Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga are sparring over

proposed changes to the election system to prevent the Supreme

Court from annulling the results again.

Kenyatta's ruling Jubilee Party presented parliament with

proposed changes last week but Odinga's coalition has said it

will not take part unless these are dropped.

Kenya is a key Western ally in a region often roiled by

violence.

Businesses were paralysed in Kisumu, the opposition

stronghold, on Monday after police and demonstrators clashed.

Reuters

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