WHY KISUMU COUNTY IS MAD AT RAILA

A section of Kisumu residents and business
owners expressed their dissatisfaction over
how their city continues to suffer even after
CORD leader Raila Odinga suspended his
country wide anti-Independent Electoral and
Boundaries Commission (IEBC)
demonstrations.

Being his strong hold, his supporters came out
in multitudes to support his agenda, but on
the flip side, the city bared the largest brunt
of the demonstrations.
Aside from protesters being killed, businesses
suffered losses and continue to do so despite
the suspension that was announced on
Sunday, June 19, 2016.
According to the Star, the residents welcomed
the suspension because it meant peace for
their city where they could thrive again.
“Trade was affected as looters attacked
business premises. More than 100 gas
cylinders were stolen at Naivas supermarket
while Tumaini incurred loses of unknown
value,” published the Star on Tuesday,
June 21, 2016.
he lets it out
Investors in the city also pulled out of their
business deals due to poor management of
the city by the county government. They also
complained about the city being dirty and
insecure.
Aside from the investors, a number of shops
in malls remain closed to date.
“The loses from the demonstrations were not
just a one time factor. It is stil being felt and
shop owners are closing up and moving to
other towns,” said an investor who spoke
on the condition od anonymity.
The country-wide demonstrations have been
held for six weeks on Mondays by the
opposition coalition.
This has been in efforts to call for the
disbandment of the Independent Electoral and
Boundaries Commission.
CORD believes that IEBC is biased in favour
of the Jubilee government and accused them
of election malpractices in the 2013 general
election.

The coalition however suspended
demonstrations for dialogue with the Jubilee
government to charter a new course for the
electoral board.
CORD said that talks with the government
were almost complete despite a number of
disagreements in the initial stages of forming
the committee that would hold the talks.