Sat 3 July, 2004 16:46
By James MachariaNAIROBI (Reuters) - Kenyan riot police armed with teargas, batons and water cannon vehicles have fought running battles in the capital city with hundreds of people defying a ban on a rally called to press for constitutional reform.
Kenya is experiencing its worst political crisis since President Mwai Kibaki was swept to power in December 2002, with bitter rows over a new draft constitution and public disappointment that little has changed under the new government.
Kibaki -- cheered at his inauguration 18 months ago at Uhuru Park, the venue of Saturday's clashes -- crushed retired President Daniel arap Moi's chosen heir at the polls on promises to reform a constitution critics say created a "Big Man" president during Moi's reign.
But Kibaki has failed to keep his promises, analysts say. Critics accuse him of deliberately blocking the new constitution which would considerably trim his vast presidential powers.
"This is another face of the increasing resistance to his government's handling of many issues, mainly the constitution," David Makali, editor of the Sunday Standard, said.
A Reuters correspondent saw paramilitary police in camouflage gear and baton-wielding riot police, some on horseback, forcing back demonstrators from the edge of the park, close to Nairobi's central business district, on Saturday.
Police water cannon vehicles drove up and down streets near the park, repeatedly dousing the dispersed crowd with water as it tried to regroup.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or arrests during Saturday's demonstrations, which were reminiscent of the violent clamour for reforms during Moi's era.
HOLD ON POWER
Feuding has rocked Kibaki's cabinet, threatening to tear apart his ruling National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), which ended a 39-year strangle-hold on power by the former KANU party.
The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), a coalition member, and the Katiba (Constitution) Watch lobby group called Saturday's rally to demand that the government enact the long-delayed new constitution.
They say Kibaki is deliberately blocking the new law, which proposes the creation of a prime minister's post to take up some of the president's duties. Kibaki has vowed not to allow another centre of power to exist during his rule.
Kibaki had promised to have the constitution in place by Wednesday, and the missed deadline angered the LDP. Opposition KANU MPs joined in, saying they too wanted a new law.
The government banned the LDP rally on Friday -- as well as a rival one called by Kibaki die-hards pressing to maintain the constitution status quo -- saying it feared violence.
The LDP and Katiba Watch called off the rally Saturday afternoon, but street protests had already begun.
In the morning, dozens of Nairobi University students threw stones at passing vehicles and police, who charged them and fired teargas canisters.
About 100 youths singing "(President Mwai) Kibaki has let us down" set fire to a tree along the city's main highway.
A police helicopter clattered above, partly drowning out the chants and blaring car horns. Most city shops remained closed.
Forty-two LDP and KANU MPs and Katiba Watch officials told a news conference they planned more rallies countrywide to press for the new constitution, starting on July 24 in the coastal city of Mombasa.
The officials also urged donors to withhold aid to Kenya to pressure Kibaki to allow the constitutional reforms.
"Kibaki has taken Kenya many steps backwards in terms of democracy," Martin Shikuku, an official of the lobby group, told reporters at a city hotel earlier.