For the last decade elections in Kenya have never been complete peaceful. They are usually characterized by people rising to oppose the outcome or preparation of the the entire process. As a result people end being divided into tribal lines. This heightens fear to the people.
Some politicians especially from the opposition, in this case the long serving opposition leader Raila Odinga often call the people to picket in demanding for fairness and balance.
What comes out of that is people engaging in running battles with police. What comes of that is people being killed using live bullets and others seriously injured.
But this curse has now landed in DRC Congo.
Police in Democratic Republic of Congo fired teargas and live bullets for a second day on Wednesday to disperse supporters of opposition presidential candidate Martin Fayulu, killing at least one person, local activists said.
Campaigning over the past three weeks for the long-delayed Dec. 23 election has been mostly peaceful, but the flare-ups in the southeastern Katanga region have raised concerns about a repeat of the violence that plagued the 2006 and 2011 votes.
Police in the town of Kalemie blocked the convoy of vehicles transporting Fayulu to a rally and started shooting into the air, said David Ngoy Luhaka, a priest and member of the Diocesan Commission for Justice and Peace.
One woman was hit by a bullet and later died, he said.
“When Fayulu reached the Musalala hotel in Kalemie he was stopped by police who started shooting and firing teargas,” Ngoy said. “One woman was killed. We are still counting arrests and injuries.”
Rogatien Kitenge, a civil society leader, confirmed police had fired live rounds and teargas and that one woman had been killed. Fayulu was eventually able to hold his rally.
Government and police spokespeople could not be reached for comment.
What do you think African elections always turn out being violent?