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WORLD NEWS Saturday 28 OctOber 2017

Kenya postpones voting in opposition areas after violence

By CHRIS TORCHIA that voting will not occur
TOM ODULA in several opposition areas
Associated Press on Saturday followed warn-
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — ings from opposition lead-
Fears of further blood- ers that they would not par-
shed led Kenya’s election ticipate, fearing a police
commission to postpone crackdown.
voting planned for Satur- “This is our polling station
day in some opposition here but we won’t vote,
strongholds, citing safety come what may,” said R.
concerns for its workers as Samson Odhiambo, a resi-
deadly clashes continued dent of Kisumu, Kenya’s
between police and pro- third-largest city and an
testers. opposition stronghold.
It was the second voting Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o,
delay in four out of Kenya’s the governor of Kisumu
47 counties, highlighting County, described the plan
the bitter divisions and po- to open the polls on Sat-
litical uncertainty that have urday as a “joke.” Church
intensified after Thursday’s leaders and lawyers in
repeat presidential elec- Kisumu city also criticized
tion, which was boycotted An opposition supporter yells in front of a burning barricade built from material looted from the the plan.
by supporters of opposition property of a man of the Kikuyu tribe, that they broke into in the Kawangware slum of Nairobi, State Department spokes-
leader Raila Odinga. It was Kenya Friday, Oct. 27, 2017. Stone-throwing protesters who support opposition leader Raila Odinga woman Heather Nauert
not clear when the voting clashed with police who fired tear gas and water cannons. said in a tweet that the U.S.
will now take place. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis) was “disappointed” by re-
At least six people have a machete blow was seen ed 86 people, police said. in the earlier election, is a ports of Friday’s violence:
died in violence linked to on the ground, bleeding Many observers say Ke- Luo. “We encourage immedi-
the latest election, includ- heavily. nya’s ethnic-based politics Odinga’s legal challenge ate & open dialogue w/ all
ing a man who was shot “We are not celebrating overshadow the promise led to the nullification of the parties to resolve deep divi-
and killed in the Nairobi this election!” one oppo- of its democracy. President August vote. He then with- sions.”
slum of Kawangware as sition supporter shouted Uhuru Kenyatta, who got 54 drew from the new elec- Thursday’s vote had a
security forces moved to as dozens of young men percent of the vote in the tion, saying the process sharply lower turnout be-
quell fighting between streamed by carrying sticks Aug. 8 presidential elec- was not credible because cause of the opposition
gangs from different ethnic and stones. tion that was later nullified of the lack of electoral re- boycott. About 6.5 million
groups late Friday, accord- Since Thursday, six police by the Supreme Court over forms. people, or one-third of
ing to police. officers have been seriously irregularities, is from the Ki- Friday’s announcement by registered voters, went to
Earlier in the day, stone- injured in election violence kuyu community. Odinga, election commission chair- the polls, according to the
throwing protesters in and authorities have arrest- who got nearly 45 percent man Wafula Chebukati election commission.q
Kawangware who sup-
port Odinga clashed with US ambassador to UN: Congo vote must occur in 2018
police who fired tear gas
and water cannon. The ri- By S. MWANAMILONGO after her meeting with the go. Haley was expected to mission has said the presi-
oters, some belonging to Associated Press president of Congo’s elec- repeat the message during dential vote cannot take
the Luhya and Luo ethnic KINSHASA, Congo (AP) — tion commission in Kin- a meeting with President place until 2019 despite a
groups, looted shops and Congo will not have the shasa. “If the elections are Joseph Kabila before re- deal struck with the opposi-
set fire to a kiosk owned by help of the international not organized in 2018, the turning to the U.S. tion that it would occur this
an ethnic Kikuyu, accord- community if elections are DRC cannot count on the Congo has seen wide- year. He cited deadly vio-
ing to witnesses. Kikuyu not held in 2018, the U.S. international community. It spread anger over Kabi- lence in central Congo’s
gangs with machetes then ambassador to the United is important that the elec- la’s stay in power after his Kasai region for the delay.
moved into the area and Nations said Friday as she tions be held in 2018,” she mandate ended in De- Haley came to Africa to
attacked the rioters. More neared the end of a three- said, referring to the coun- cember and the election see U.S. and United Nations
fires were set and one man nation Africa visit. try’s full name of the Demo- was delayed. The head involvement in Ethiopia,
with a severe wound from Nikki Haley’s remarks came cratic Republic of the Con- of Congo’s election com- South Sudan and Congo.q