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Police use tear gas, batons to disperse opposition protesters in Kenya

Tuesday, 26 September 2017 10:53 AM [ Last Update: Tuesday, 26 September 2017 10:55 AM ]

Kenyan riot police officers deployed outside the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.

Kenyan riot police have clashed with opposition protesters staging a rally against election officials in the capital city, Nairobi.

Police fired tear gas canisters and used batons on Tuesday to disperse the protesters calling for the election officials to be fired and prosecuted before a re-run of a contested presidential vote.

Several volleys of tear gas were fired at protestors near the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) headquarters in central Nairobi, a Reuters witness said.

Security officers also beat some of the protesters with batons after regrouping with backup forces.

Supporters of the opposition National Super Alliance coalition marched in several cities across the country.

Opposition leader Raila Odinga, who lost his bid to be elected president on August 8, has got another chance when the vote is re-run after the Supreme Court annulled the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta, citing irregularities.

The court ruling on September 1 said a repeat election should be held within 60 days, but Odinga has said he would not participate in the re-run scheduled for October 26 if officials at the election board are not sacked and prosecuted.

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