Kenyan prosecutors will charge the sister of main opposition leader Raila Odinga and an opposition senator with incitement to violence after attacks on election board staff last week, the chief prosecutor’s office said on Monday.
Last week, protesters disrupted several election-related events, including a training session of election officials in Odinga’s western stronghold of Kisumu, attacking staff and destroying tents and training materials.
The charges against Ruth Odinga and the other senator are related to the incident.
Both Ruth Odinga and Outa were present at the protests, according to Reuters witnesses. Neither could immediately be contacted for comment.
Ruth is a former deputy governor of Kisumu county.
According to a letter that the director of public prosecution’s office posted online, Ruth and the rest are being charged with incitement, destruction of property, obstructing election officers and trespassing in electoral center, Reuters reports.
Odinga has been due to compete against incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta in a repeat presidential election on Oct. 26, but pulled out earlier this month, saying the vote would not be free and fair and calling for a boycott, the report said.
Kenya’s August 8 presidential election were nullified by the Supreme Court citing irregularities.
Odinga’s NASA coalition has been holding weekly protests to push for reforms at the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) ahead of the October 26 vote.
Raila Odinga has called for a mass protest on the date of the repeat presidential election, which has stoked concerns of violence during the election.
