KENYA: DEMONSTRATORS CLASH WITH POLICE AT MOI DAY RALLY

(10 Oct 1997) English/Nat

Kenyan police fired tear gas and swung clubs and whips to break up an opposition rally Friday on Moi Day, a national holiday named after President Daniel arap Moi.

At least a dozen people were arrested, including opposition leaders.

Dozens of people were hurt by the more than 100 riot and plainclothes police who jumped from trucks to chase away the roughly 2,000 demonstrators, who chanted, "Moi go home".

Kenyan riot police start firing some of a dozen tear gas canisters at opposition protesters in the capital, Nairobi.

Nearly 2,000 had gathered in the city's Kamukunji Grounds, an open space used for rallies and as a market.

Around 100 riot and plainclothes police were there to confront them.

After the tear gas had dispersed the crowds, the police moved in to make arrests.

Demonstrators took cover among surrounding houses, hurled stones at the police and set tyres on fire.

Officers arrested opposition leaders Paul Muite, seen here wearing a red, blue and green shirt, Henry Ruhiu and Aloo Ogeka.

Police beat protesters with clubs and short whips, and many people crumpled to the ground, bleeding from head injuries.

Other police used their fists, or flying kicks to forcefully make their point.

The police searched house-to-house for opposition leaders who avoided arrest in an attempt to resume the rally.

It simply proved, said one opposition leader, that Kenya's President and democracy have nothing in common.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"As you see Moi will always see the niche .. you see Moi and democratic principles are absolutely strange bedfellows."
SUPER CAPTION: Muturr Kigano, chairman of Safina opposition party

Earlier the demonstrators had shouted "Moi go home".

Now their stones gave the same message to the departing police.

This graffiti on the road summed up their mood -- "Moi, R-I-P."

Somewhat ironically, this all happened on Kenya's Moi Day, a national holiday named after President Daniel arap Moi.

Across town in Uhuru Park, Moi was at a formal ceremony to mark the public holiday.

The day was created in 1979 and named after the President to encourage Kenyans to reflect on the welfare of their fellow countrymen.

But there had been little sign of that as the police violently broke up the opposition rally.

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