Schools closed as tension rises over CORD’s anti-IEBC protest

Several schools in Kibra were closed on Monday as tension rose over CORD’s protests against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

Olympic Primary School, Red Rose Academy and Ayany Primary are some of the schools in Kibra that were closed with both teachers and pupils keeping off classes.

Kibra was one of the places where there was a standoff between police and protesters are they attempted to prevent them from entering Nairobi’s Central Business District.

Police had to lob teargas to disperse the protesters, though they eventually managed to make their way into the town centre.

CORD has vowed to defy police orders barring them from holding anti-IEBC protests saying they would continue with the protests until the commissioners leave office.

Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinett had said that they would stop CORD’s anti-IEBC protests on Monday, saying their role as the national police is to ensure every Kenyan observes law and order.

He termed the protests unlawful saying: “The court stated that CORD is not allowed to hold demonstrations until the matter is heard on June 6 (today).”

“If they disobey the law and go to the streets on Monday we will be forced to stop them because it is our duty to observe law and order.”

Siaya Senator James Orengo however said the court order does not bar them from holding protests against IEBC commissioners, as claimed by the police, but restricts them from storming IEBC offices at Anniversary Towers and forcefully evicting the commissioners.

In a rejoinder, Orengo said that their protests will go on as planned adding that they have so far adhered to the court ruling and maintained peace during their protests.

“There is no court order that prevents any Kenyan from holding demonstrations, what the order prevents is storming IEBC offices,” he said.

The order, which is in our possession, does not categorically stop CORD from holding the protests but warns against efforts to evict commissioner from office or barring them from accessing their offices.

In a ruling issued by Justice Isaac Lenaola after five Jubilee MPs moved to court seeking to stop CORD’s protests, the court restrains CORD from “breaking into, storming, forcibly opening the doors or blocking such access to the IEBC commissioners and IEBC staff premises within Kenya.”

@benjaminwafula