Kenya's poll body postpones voting in protest-hit counties

Kenya's electoral body on Thursday said voting in four western counties marred by violent protests would be postponed to Saturday.

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Wafula Chebukati said voting had been suspended in Homa Bay, Siaya, Migori and Kisumu counties, which are opposition strongholds, due to disruptions occasioned by riots and threats aimed at election officials, Xinhua news agency reported.

Violent demonstrations erupted in the opposition strongholds in western Kenya and Nairobi's Kibera slums as repeat presidential polls kicked off on Thursday.

The anti-election protesters engaged the police in running battles and gunshots featured across the opposition strongholds as police intensified patrols during the repeat exercise.

In Nairobi, Kibera residents burned tyres and blocked roads in a show of support for opposition leader Raila Odinga, who was President Uhuru Kenyatta's main rival.

Meanwhile, Kenyan police have dismissed media reports that police officers deployed to provide security for the repeat polls have used live fire.

--IANS

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