Police fire tear gas, make arrests during protests in Kenya

2016-05-16 20:01

(Ben Curtis, AP)

Nairobi - Kenyan police have fired tear gas to break up protests over electoral reforms ahead of general elections next year.

Associated Press journalists saw police beating some protesters who had gathered outsides the offices of Kenya's electoral commission in the capital Nairobi on Monday.

The protests are led by opposition leader Raila Odinga, who lost the most recent election in 2013 to President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Paul Wanjama, police chief for central police station in Nairobi, said they detained at least 15 demonstrators who will be charged on Tuesday.

He did not say what charges they face.

Odinga says polls in 2017 cannot be free and fair if the current election commission remains in place and calls for the commissioners to be removed from office.

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