The newly named Raila Odinga Road formerly known as Mbagathi way has been put under 24 hour security surveillance so that it does not go the Atwoli way.
The move to put the newly named Raila Odinga Road under 360 degrees surveillance was informed by the recent acts by unknown goons which saw a road named after the COTU secretary general destroyed.
Sometime in May, Nairobi County renamed Dik Dik Road in Kileleshwa as Francis Atwoli Road. The Cotu secretary general said he was honoured for his selfless contribution to the cause of Kenyan workers.
However, the road never lived to see the next day as unknown vandals not only brought down the sign post but also burnt them down to ashes.
Reacting to the unfortunate incident, Francis Atwoli said that destroying a road under his name was a waste of time since it did not hurt him in anyway, adding that it would only haunt the parties responsible.
“Bringing down an honorary road signage under my name does not hurt me. On the flip side, it will haunt, for life, those who are behind it. For how does it benefit them? How do you sleep at night knowing you are a vandal?”
The COTU boss also added that his brand is well known all over the world and that it did not require a sign post to know who he was.
“The name will live in posterity taking into account my years of selfless service to the workers in Kenya and the world. If anything the signage was just an act of honour bestowed to me by Nairobians taking into account my many years of service.”
Thus, it seems those behind the renaming of Mbagathi way to Raila Odinga way have learnt a lesson from the Atwoli incident and are taking all the precautions which would keep the vandals far away.
In the meantime, Kenyans had these to say after the Mbagathi way was renamed the Raila Odinga way:
“Good move but should not be done at night due to drivers mostly new ones drivers in the area ,same case vile bumps hazifai kuekwa usiku.”
“Long overdue. Could have been done in 1992 to mark the end of the second liberation…But aisuru.”
“Why at night though? Why sneak it on kenyanz? It doesn’t gel in a question……are you going thru Raila Odinga Way..way out of point.”
“I applaud what the NMS have done under Badi. Hon Raila Odinga deserves great honour. This road, Raila Odinga Rd will be a great reminder to the future generations about Raila the person and the struggles he waged while alive! So many people might not see the significance of this naming but to me it’s demonstration of accepting all the good he has done for his motherland; it’s an inspiration to the coming generations and a challenge!”
“The fifth president he has sacrificed so much for this country.”
“Everything favouring Raila is always done at night coz it’s illegal and unconstitutional.. am not a support of Raila but i think this is so small ,, according to his age and his fought for democracy he deserves an international City Stadium ?️.. to me hii ni madharau.”
“If it’s a noble thing WHY DO IT UNDER THE COVER OF DARKNESS?
I have nothing but respect for the man actually he deserves thika rd ama Mombasa rd even an airport ama a stadium better yet give him NAIROBI RIVER whatever befits his status but let it be done with JUBILEEation. Mchana peupe peupe.”
“Perfect! Raila Odinga is a statesman and a pan-Africanist. He deserves such an honourable recognition. I beg to support.”
“In the next 20 yrs or so… All books of History will praise Raila and he will become a human of study to the next generation… .. I may not support him for presidency but I feel like he is a legend. He should be recognized well. He can’t be equated to Atwoli by naming the roads after him … He has some good history more that Atwoli.”
“Quite timely. He has done a lot for the country including giving people like Ruto the freedom to call the president tapeli. Raila the Fifth.”
“The real Raila l know deserves even better since he did something to this country when he was active and fought gallantly for this country. But the Raila of today deserves nothing he is hungry of power which he can’t get, he supports impunity just because he has been lied he will be the fifth . Shame on today’s Raila and hongera to the former Raila the people’s president.”
“Raila is the last man standing. I don’t think there will be another Raila. Even those insulting him today are doing so because he fought for the space they are now using. It’s unfortunate he is now tired and weak unable to continue the struggle and those who should have replaced him are unable to match him. He deserves more. Actually he deserves some historical building where a collection of his struggles will be stored. Something like a museum.”
“This is very good. Honouring the enigma is a good thing bearing in mind his contribution towards democracy and rights and freedoms in this country.”
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