KENYA: Thousands of students protest against alleged police killings in Kenya, demanding the resignation of the police commissioner

Record ID: 361981

  • Title: KENYA: Thousands of students protest against alleged police killings in Kenya, demanding the resignation of the police commissioner
  • Date: 11th March 2009
  • Summary: NAIROBI, KENYA (MARCH 10, 2009) (REUTERS) UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI STUDENTS RUNNING ON ROAD STUDENT HOLDING PLACARD THAT READS 'ALI MUST GO' MORE OF STUDENTS HOLDING PLACARDS VARIOUS OF STUDENTS RUNNING UP AND DOWN ON THE STREETS OF NAIROBI VARIOUS OF STUDENTS BLOCKING TRAFFIC (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED STUDENT LEADER SAYING: "We have come here peacefully and we have
  • Embargoed: 26th March 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Crime / Law Enforcement
  • Reuters ID: LVA196RS3SYJZ78TWWZGX0W5XQJU
  • Story Text: Students took to the streets of the Kenyan capital Nairobi on Tuesday (March 10) to protest against alleged killings by security forces. One student demonstrator was shot dead last week.
    An estimated 2000 marched from the University of Nairobi and Kenya Polytechnic to the city-centre, waving placards and demanding the resignation of the controversial police commissioner Hussein Ali.
    One student leader, who did not wish to be named, said it was to be a peaceful demonstration and said it would be the police to blame if the situation turned ugly.
    Later, there were outbreaks of violence with reports of stores ransacked clashes with police.
    There's been increasing public disaffection with the coalition government of President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga. Having restored peace after a traumatic post-election crisis that killed at least 1,300 last year, the unity government has stalled on political reforms and seen various corruption scandals emerge.
    Public anger in recent weeks has focused on allegations of multiple police killings of suspected members of the criminal gang Mungiki. The controversy grew last week with the assassination of two human rights activists and later, the shooting to death by police of a student demonstrator.
    The police commissioner has ordered the arrest of three officers for firing on students last week, but has said he will not resign.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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