Anti-government protesters in Siaya have been engaging police in a dialogue to end mass action in peace.
The strategy has seen Siaya not having any casualties that arise out of the mass protests that were called by Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition leader Raila Odinga.
On Monday, the protests were held in Bondo town where protesters engaged police in running battles until about 3:00 pm.
The demonstrations that were led by ODM party's Ochieng Mawere and Yimbo West MCA Francis Otiato turned chaotic after protesters started hurling stones at the officers at the station, prompting the police to lob tear gas to disperse the crowd.
After the depletion of the teargas canisters, one of the police officers pleaded with the protesters to stop attacking them with stones and instead resume their duties. The angry youths dropped the stones and left to run their errands.
A similar strategy was once again witnessed in Siaya today when the officers who were overwhelmed by the charged crowd urged members of the public to stop pelting stones at them
The plea came after the police exhausted their teargas and were unable to repulse the spirited protesters whose mission was to reduce the UDA offices to ashes.
The anti-riot officers resorted to leaving the site that hosted the UDA Offices. Some youths at the site were picking stones ready to attack them, however, the officers pleaded with the officers to drop the stones ending the day's demonstrations.
"The demos today were peaceful as compared to other days where youths threw stones at the police. This time the residents never provoked the police," Ochieng Ochieng, a protester said.
The Youths lit bonfires beside the roads and no shop, supermarket or hardware was invaded. The owners of various businesses were also part of the mass action.
This year’s protests have been peaceful as compared to previous years when such exercises left protesters dead or nursing gunshot wounds.
In May 2016 during the Anti-IEBC protests, police were reported to have shot a man dead during protests in Siaya county.
Six other victims were critically injured in the county during the demonstrations.
Those who were killed included Frederick Otieno, Austine Omwombo, and Churchill Odhiambo.
On October 2, 2017, one person died after choking on teargas during anti-IEBC demonstrations in Siaya county.
The Opposition had announced that protests would take place on Mondays and Fridays for the removal of former Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) CEO Ezra Chiloba. The demonstrations were also being held to call for the amendment of electoral laws.
The protests turned chaotic when the demonstrators approached the electoral agency’s offices to drop a petition. Anti-riot officers fired tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd.
The deceased, Martin Ondongo, 46, from Ondongo Randago village is alleged to have died after he was chocked by tear gas fumes.
