Police brace for violence at Kenyan memorial for election victims

NAIROBI: Kenyan coalition opposition party, the National Super Alliance (Nasa), has warned the country’s police that they will be held responsible for any harm caused to its supporters during a mass memorial service, Kenya’s East African reports.

The commemoration to be held at the Jacaranda grounds in Embakasi, Nairobi, today will be attended by Nasa leader Raily Odinga and coincides with the swearing-in of President Uhuru Kenyatta, raising fears of more violence.

The memorial will commemorate, and pray with the families of those killed in election-related political violence and unrest, between November 17 and 21, as police and what Nasa described as “regime-sponsored gangs” clashed with opposition supporters.

“Our clients shall hold a memorial on November 28 for the innocent Kenyans who met their untimely deaths at the hands of the police and regime-sponsored killer gangs in the past few weeks,” said a letter signed by Nasa lawyer Edwin Sifuna.

Nasa further urged its supporters to stay away from the swearing-in of Kenyatta, describing it as a “despotic coronation”, adding that it would not recognise the leadership of the incumbent president. In response the police have said that they oppose the memorial service and will not provide permission for it to go ahead. Nairobi county police commander, Japheth Koome, said the only meeting that was going ahead was the presidential swearing-in.

Sifuna then countered that they didn’t need permission, before once again warning that they had served notice on the police.