Two people were shot dead and two others seriously injured when police broke up an Orange rally in Likoni, Mombasa, yesterday. Cabinet ministers Raila Odinga (right) and Najib Balala were caught up in the violence that left several people injured and two vehicles burnt. (13-NOV-05)
This article, written by Ernest Ndunda, first appeared in yesterday?s issue of the Kenya based weekly the East African Standard. It has been edited for republication here.
Mombasa police boss Wilfred Mbithi last night said those seriously injured were admitted to a health centre in Likoni area. Tension was high in the area, in the South Coast, and contingents of General Service Unit personnel were deployed to maintain order.
Teargas
Trouble started when police arrived at the open ground adjacent to the Caltex Service Station at Likoni where the Orange meeting was to be held, and declared it illegal. But the crowd turned violent and police lobbed teargas canisters and fired in the air to disperse Orange supporters. The two ministers and other politicians almost choked on fumes of a teargas capsule that exploded near the podium. They used bottled water to dab their eyes as the situation became violent.
Burning of tyres
Riots in the usually serene neighbourhood of Likoni continued into the night as the crowd that had been dispersed burnt tyres and overturned kiosks on the main road to Ukunda. Thick clouds of smoke billowed at various sections of the busy road as part of the rioting crowd set several piles of tyres on fire. Transport was disrupted for hours. The Orange team had held three other meetings across Kwale District and the Likoni rally was indicated in the programme as a stopover. Police had earlier indicated the meeting would not be allowed to take place because they had not been notified. The entourage evaded roadblocks and arrived at the venue at 5pm to a rousing welcome by a large crowd. Balala, who was the master of ceremony, was the first to climb to the dais, but before he could introduce his team, a large contingent of riot policemen arrived. The crowd at the venue shouted at the officers to let the meeting go on.
