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One killed in Mombasa riots
Published on January 19, 2008, 12:00 am
EA STANDARD
By Saturday Standard Team
At least one person was shot dead by police in Mombasa as ODM
supporters staged a demonstration.
Red Cross official, Mr Abdalla Athman, said the man was shot dead
along Hail-Selassie Road as he was running away from charging
police officers.
Coast General Provincial Police Officer, Mr King’ori Mwangi,
declined to comment when contacted.
During the demonstration, the police shot and injured several
people.
Two people were shot in the hand while another was hit in the
thigh. They were admitted to Coast Provincial General Hospital.
Those shot by police included a two-and-half year-old boy, who was
admitted to the Mombasa Hospital in critical condition.
The violence, which erupted in various parts of the town after 1pm
Muslim prayers, saw the demonstrators and the police engage in
running street battles that paralysed business in the city centre.
Mvita MP, Mr Najib Balala, evaded arrest as ODM supporters
shielded him from riot-police.
Balala had just left Mbaruk mosque after 1pm prayers in the
company of several demonstrators when riot police — under the
command of Mombasa OCPD Mr Wilfred Mbithi — intercepted them and
ordered them to disperse.
Immediately, supporters allied to Balala formed a strong human
shield to prevent police from arresting him.
Balala walked from the mosque towards the General Post Office (GPO)
where police called for reinforcement and started shooting in the
air and lobbying tear gas canisters.
Balala was whisked away into his car, which sped towards Mwembe
Tayari.
Police pursued Balala and his convoy but lost track.
At Sakina mosque near Majengo, protesters engaged police in
running battles for many hours after the 1pm prayers led by
Council of Imams and Preachers of Kenya (CIPK) Organising
Secretary, Sheikh Mohamed Khalifa.
In Kisumu, hundreds of ODM supporters engaged riot police in
running battles during the third day of mass action.
But for the first time since the protests began, no killings were
reported. Police only shot in the air to scare away the
demonstrators.
Transport paralysed
The town, however, remained deserted. Government services were
also paralysed for the third straight day with only a handful of
civil servants turning up for duty.
Transport out of town also remained paralysed.
Kondele, Kachok, Nyalenda, Obunga, Manyatta and Bandani areas were
battle zones as police dispersed demonstrators who attempted to
force their way into Kenyatta Sports Grounds in the town centre.
Demonstrators blocked all roads leading to the lakeside town,
paralysing transport to and out of town.
Neither boda boda nor motorbike operators were allowed to ferry
passengers, forcing residents to walk to their destinations.
Demonstrators assembled at Kondele, barricaded the road and lit
bonfires.
One group pushed a lorry, parked it at the market, before setting
it ablaze.
As all these happened, riot police watched from the Kondele Police
Station.
On realising that police had no intention of dispersing them, the
demonstrators started marching to town.
They almost managed to reach the Kenyatta Sports Ground but their
efforts were thwarted by APs at Kisumu Bus Park.
What started as a peaceful demonstration turned chaotic as police
descended on them as they approached the Kisumu Bus Park.
The situation was the same at Nyalenda, Kachok and Manyatta as
police lobbed teargas canisters at the demonstrators who wanted to
push their way to town.
In Siaya, Migori and Homa Bay, police battled demonstrators who
lit bonfires and blockaded roads.
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