Defiant Cord demonstrators burn tyres, block roads in Nairobi, Migori
Cord supporters defied a police ban on anti-IEBC protests and took to the streets in various counties on Monday, burning tyres and blocking roads.
Thika Road was one of those affected by the demonstrators behind Cord leader Raila Odinga's push for reforms to the electoral system.
Youths from Mathare threw stones at vehicles, forcing motorists to use alternative routes.
Protests begin early
In Migori county, the demonstrators took to the streets on Sunday, shortly after the 9pm news, when they realised no agreement had been reached on the IEBC stalemate.
Riding on boda bodas and blowing whistles, the demonstrators forced vehicles off the road causing the early closure of businesses.
They lit bonfires on all major roads within Migori town as early as 6.30am, despite a directive by the county's ODM chairperson for the protests to begin at 10am.
Philip Makabong'o said Migori youths have shown the way in ensuring IEBC commissioners go home.
The chairperson urged all members to participate in demonstrations in the eight subcounties in Migori at local IEBC offices.
In Kisumu, protesters blocked roads with burning tyres and stones, a witness said as reported by Reuters.
"IEBC must go," demonstrators in Kisumu shouted, while others carried a banner carrying the same slogan.
Riot police ready
Cord leaders have defied past warnings and carried on with their weekly demonstrations for the removal of IEBC commissioners before the 2017 general election.
On June 3, Inspector General of Police Joseph Boinnet rejected a notificationby Cord to resume their weekly demos over claims the commission is corrupt.
But on Monday, armed and fully geared r iot police were deployed in the counties to thwart the protests and ward off violence.
Nairobi commander Japheth Koome had asked residents to avoid the CBD and reported that they found grenadesbeing transported to Kibera.
In some areas, parents were urged not to take their children to school. Olympic Primary School in Kibera has been closed for the day.
Cord ultimatum not met
During the Madaraka Day rally at Uhuru Park, Cord leader Raila Odingasaid the coalition would only end the protests if President Uhuru Kenyatta kept his word on dialogue.
Last week, Raila, and his co-principal Moses Wetang'ula said it is wrong for the president and his deputy to overturn a decision to form a 10-member team to spearhead talks on how to disband the electoral commission. But in a statement, State House refuted Raila's allegations.
The coalition had written to police that they would resume the demonstrations after futile efforts to initiate dialoguewith the government over the IEBC impasse.
Police said there is an existing court order banning the coalition from holding protests and further threatened to arrest them
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