Police fire tear gas to disperse protest against Kenya's election body

Police in Nairobi fired tear gas on Monday to disperse opposition supporters protesting against the electoral commission.

The opposition said the protest was a way of expressing their dissatisfaction with how the electoral body was being managed ahead of the 2017 General Election.

“Our leaders have not met them so we cannot decide anything. But we are hoping they will hear us because they said yesterday, dialogue can be accepted even in your house,” a protester told Reuters.

“We’ll use all means. This is just the business of building up. So you can expect next week the whole city will be full,” said another protester.

Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the offices of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). A few demonstrators hurled stones at police standing near the gate of the IEBC offices.

Led by former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga, the protesters said they want the electoral body disbanded over claims of rigging elections and frustrating their push for a referendum.

We demand the disbandment and reconstitution of the IEBC to allow for free and fair elections in 2017. #IEBCMustGo pic.twitter.com/Mjio5Uth1X

— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) May 9, 2016

The electoral body has maintained that it has conducted itself professionally, and that disbanding the commission simply because politicians felt aggrieved was setting a wrong precedent.