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Kenya braced for wave of protests Kenya police and protesters clash
(about 2 hours later)
Riot police are patrolling the streets of 30 cities and towns in Kenya ahead of opposition rallies against last month's disputed presidential poll. Riot police are patrolling the streets of 30 cities and towns in Kenya for planned opposition rallies against last month's disputed presidential poll.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) said it would press ahead with the protests, despite a police ban. In Mombasa port, police have fired tear gas to disperse Orange Democratic Movement supporters heading to one of the banned gatherings.
A BBC correspondent in the capital, Nairobi, says so far there are no signs of large crowds gathering. A BBC correspondent in the capital, Nairobi, says heavy rain has so prevented large crowds gathering
It comes a day after an ODM candidate was elected speaker of parliament - one of the highest offices of state. The rallies come a day after an ODM candidate became parliament speaker.
The new speaker, Kenneth Marende, told the BBC that opposition's dominance of parliament would make it difficult for President Mwai Kibaki's PNU party to impose itself, and that it might be forced into forming a coalition.
See an aerial map of Nairobi and the city centre See an aerial map of Nairobi and the city centre
Mr Kibaki was re-elected on 27 December, but ODM leader Raila Odinga says the poll was rigged. Election observers have also complained of irregularities in the presidential vote count. The new speaker, Kenneth Marende, told the BBC that the ODM had the constitutional right to begin three days of protests against the election.
Unrest since the announcement of the results has claimed more than 600 lives, driven about a quarter of a million of people from their homes and shaken relations between the country's dominant tribes. The police are well prepared to counter any groups attempting to disrupt peace Eric KiraithePolice spokesman
Roadblocks
Mr Marende said the ODM had the constitutional right to begin three days of protests against the election.
Opposition supporters, many of them from the slums of Nairobi, hope to march on the city's politically symbolic Uhuru Park.
"People are anticipating chaos and many of them will go to the rallies," one resident of Nairobi's Mathare slum told the Reuters news agency.
Slum wary of ethnic violenceKenya's dubious election
There are heavily armed police stationed around the park, but otherwise police presence remains minimal compared to Tuesday, when large parts of the city's business district was sealed off as MPs were being sworn in.
There have been reports of running battles between protesters and police in the port city of Mombasa.
A BBC correspondent at the scene said activists with placards and white ribbons staged sit-ins at the main roads leading into the city.
In the western opposition stronghold of Kisumu, shutters remained closed ahead of the rallies, and in Eldoret protesters erected roadblocks in the outskirts of town.
The protests have been banned by police, who called them "inappropriate".The protests have been banned by police, who called them "inappropriate".
The BBC's Karen Allen in the western town of Kisumu, home to ODM presidential challenger Raila Odinga, says expectations are running high as crowds prepare to defy the police.
Mr Kibaki was re-elected on 27 December, but Mr Odinga says the poll was rigged. Election observers have also complained of irregularities in the presidential vote count.
Unrest since the announcement of the results has claimed more than 600 lives, driven about a quarter of a million of people from their homes and shaken relations between the country's dominant ethnic groups.
'White ribbons'
Opposition supporters, many of them from the slums of Nairobi, hope to march on the city's politically symbolic Uhuru (Freedom) Park.
Slum wary of ethnic violenceKenya's dubious election
"People are anticipating chaos and many of them will go to the rallies," one resident of Nairobi's Mathare slum told the Reuters news agency.
But correspondents say so far there has been little sign of this.
ODM leaders are gathering at their party headquarters in the capital to prepare a statement, reports say.
There are heavily armed police stationed around Uhuru Park, but otherwise police presence remains minimal compared to Tuesday, when large parts of the city's business district was sealed off as MPs were being sworn in.
Many shopkeepers have boarded up their properties to try to prevent looting
There have been running battles between protesters and police in Mombasa where several people have been injured.
A BBC correspondent in the port city says opposition activists dressed in white ribbons and displaying placards have staged sit-ins at the main roads leading into the city.
In Eldoret, which witnessed the burning of a church in post-poll violence, protesters also erected roadblocks in the outskirts of town.
Burnt-out buildings
Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe says rallies are unlawful until the security situation across the country returns to normal.
"The constitution allows groups to hold the protests but the police are well prepared to counter any groups attempting to disrupt peace," he told the BBC.
The shells of burnt-out buildings and petrol stations torched in the last round of protests in Kisumu are a reminder that the police will not tolerate such gatherings, our reporter Karen Allen says.
Attempts at outside mediation between Mr Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki have failed with the latest, a bid by Kofi Annan, postponed when the former United Nations chief fell ill.Attempts at outside mediation between Mr Odinga and President Mwai Kibaki have failed with the latest, a bid by Kofi Annan, postponed when the former United Nations chief fell ill.
At Tuesday's inauguration of the new parliament, Kenya's two bitter rivals studiously ignored each other, correspondents say.At Tuesday's inauguration of the new parliament, Kenya's two bitter rivals studiously ignored each other, correspondents say.
The new speaker said opposition's dominance of parliament would make it difficult for President Mwai Kibaki's PNU party to impose itself, and that it might be forced into forming a coalition.
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