Kenya Presidential Re-run Underway Amid Tight Security as Opposition Kicks

Posted by African Examiner African News, East/Central Africa, Latest Headlines Thursday, October 26th, 2017

Photo: President Uhuru Kenyatta

BALTIMORE, MD (AFRICAN EXAMINER) – Amid tight security, voting is under way in Kenya in a re-run of the recent Presidential election.
However, the exercise is being boycotted by the main opposition in line with its leader, Ralia Odinga.

Contrary to Odinga who had vowed to disrupt the vote, by calling for “massive” demonstrations, but cautioned his supporters to stay away from polling stations, police have clashed with some of his supporters, for blocking access to polling stations.

In a statement earlier this month, Odinga accused the government of instituting a “dictatorship”, adding: “We are going to win the battle for a free and fair election”.
“Our opponents want an election for the sake of it, we want a better election,” he said

It would be recalled that incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner in an August vote, but the Supreme Court has since ordered for a rerun over “irregularities”.

Despite the initial resolve to be part of the re-run, the opposition leader has recently pulled out of the contest, base on what he described as lack of proper electoral reform.

The polls on Thursday opened with tens of thousands of police and other security staff deployed to protect voters and polling stations.
International observers have scaled down their missions for security reasons.

Unconfirmed reports say police have fired live rounds into the air to disperse opposition supporters in the western city of Kisumu and the Kibera area of Nairobi, the country’s capital.