Kenyan opposition says five wounded in fierce shooting of its supporters

28 Novembre 2017

Nairobi, Kenya, November 28 (Infosplusgabon) - Kenyan opposition leader Raila Odinga said Tuesday that five people were shot and wounded among them, the driver of his daughter Winnie Odinga, when police shot live bullets at his convoy in Nairobi.

According to Odinga's aide Salim Lone, the National Super Alliance (NASA) flag bearer condemned the shooting by police of at least five people as the NASA motorcade headed to a memorial service at Nairobi's Jacaranda Gardens for earlier killings.

Police battled opposition supporters around Jacaranda Gardens which they had sealed off to prevent the memorial service from taking place.

The confrontation left two people dead, among them a seven-year old boy, Jeffrey Mutinda, who was shot dead at his home.

Mutinda was the third child to die at the hands of the Kenyan Police.

Mr Odinga spoke as the NASA motorcade was leaving Donholm Estate to go to the memorial service's venue. He said police were constantly tracking his car and the vehicles of other NASA principals.

"This regime has no problems killing Kenyans," he said. "Lacking popular support, it thinks killing and the use of massive force is what will curb the massive opposition that its unlawful reign faces.”

President Uhuru Kenyatta said after winning the election, he planned to unite the entire population and move the country forward.

The opposition leader said he did not intend to beg for his inclusion in the new government.

"They (Jubilee) are the ones desperate for the discussions and keep sending emissaries to that end. I have said repeatedly that I am ready for discussions with Uhuru Kenyatta if these concern the issue of electoral justice, the lack of which is destroying Kenya's stability. No other dialogue is possible until that fundamental issue of the illegitimacy of the President is resolved," Lone quoted Odinga as saying.

Mr Odinga said that emissaries had reached out to try to negotiate calling off NASA's planned memorial service while Uhuru's coronation was going on.

"Uhuru is totally out of touch with Kenyans' and my own views," Mr Odinga said. Right now, "his biggest concern was that dignitaries who came for the coronation not see the depth of opposition to him that the memorial service would have made obvious."

Odinga announced he planned to take oath of office on 12 Dec. before the People's Assembly, which his party has pushed through the County Assemblies loyal to his coalition.

"We in NASA are proceeding with our People's Assembly programme which will see new elections held," Odinga said.

"Our boycott of the sham 26 October election, the programme’s first goal, was a staggering success. Such a boycott had never happened before. Kenyans will never again participate in an election that is not guaranteed to be free and fair.

"This unprecedented democratic determination has made our struggle for electoral justice a beacon of hope for all those on the continent who live in countries where democracy has been squashed for decades," he added.

FIN/INFOSPLUSGABON/TRE/GABON 2017

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