Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has endorsed activist Boniface Mwangi’s proposal to organize a peace concert at Uhuru Park to honor Kenyans who lost their lives during recent anti-government demonstrations.
During a speech in Nairobi on Thursday, Sakaja welcomed the initiative, emphasizing its noble purpose given the tragic events that inspired it. “It is true that I have received a request for a peace concert to be done at Uhuru Park; I see no problem in it. If it is a genuine expression, then it is good,” said Sakaja. “Uhuru Park belongs to Kenyans and Nairobians; it doesn’t belong to me. I am just a steward over that resource. I know it is currently an active crime scene but I hope the DCI will conclude.”
Sakaja also expressed his intention to attend the concert, stating, “We will support that expression; that concert is in honour of young people who we lost. It is good to honour them and their families and see what support we can give them. Personally, I will attend because these are my constituents.”
These remarks followed a statement by Mwangi on X (formerly Twitter), where he mentioned difficulties in reaching the Governor regarding the peace concert. Mwangi noted that his calls to both the Governor and Shaffie Weru, head of the events docket in Nairobi County, went unanswered. Later, Weru contacted Mwangi, asking him to submit a written request, with Mwangi noting the concert would be similar to the one he organized for the Garissa massacre victims in 2015.
Sakaja also addressed the damages incurred by Nairobi County after the recent burning of City Hall by goons. He stated, “Our insurance provider is assessing the damage at City Hall. We have insured all our properties. They (goons) also burnt down our 40-foot mobile recording studio at Uhuru Park costing in excess of Ksh.60 million. It was also insured so there is no additional cost on us as a county or taxpayers. Fortunately, the fire didn’t damage a lot of records because we have digitized our processes.”
Regarding the impact on businesses, Sakaja acknowledged the difficulty in quantifying the damage but expressed a desire to offer support. He also issued a stern warning to those responsible for the arson at City Hall and their financiers. “It is very fortunate that we have CCTV footage from City Hall of those who burnt it down. I have seen frivolous accusations, but those who were caught on camera, one of them works in an MP’s office in Nairobi. They will have to answer. The MP or politician who sent them will have to answer for that damage to public property,” he said.
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