On Monday, September 14 Kenyans heading to their various places of work noticed something different at Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) — Tom Mboya’s statue was missing.
Kahawa Tungu understands that the statue of late trade unionist and former Cabinet Minister Tom Mboya erected near the Kenya National Archives, Moi Avenue, was removed on Sunday, September 13 after more than a year of criticism from members of the public over its sorry state.
Reports indicate that the city leadership had succumbed to the pressure and the dusty statue was removed for a facelift.
It was reportedly taken to the Nairobi National Museum by team that was captured on camera loading it to a lorry in the CBD.
Why have they removed Tom Mboya's Statue. @MikeSonko or is the work of Baba Otis? https://t.co/1mHQRyncOg
— LazooJ (@Lazooj) September 13, 2020
The Tom Mboya monument was erected in 2011 in honour of the politician who was assassinated in 1969.
Back in June 2019, Machakos County Governor Alfred Mutua had hit out at his Nairobi counterpart for neglecting the statues at the CBD including the one of freedom fighter Dedan Kimathi located at the junction of Kimathi Street and Mama Ngina Street.
Read: History of the Mzee Jomo Kenyatta Statue
Mutua promised to repair and maintain the statues until those concerned would “wake up from their slumber.”
After the criticism, Sonko commenced rehabilitation of the statues but it was shortlived.
The Tom Mboya statue is synonymous with fans of Gor Mahia football club. It has acted as their meeting point during Mashemeji Derby matches for years now.
Here are some of the reactions online following its removal.
https://twitter.com/morarajustine/status/1305361350563180544?s=20
The degeneration that Tom Mboya statue in Nairobi has gone to and seemingly NOBODY cares about it; those responsible have become utterly IRRESPONSIBLE. #Neglect#Kenya#Sad#Ruto#Ngunyi pic.twitter.com/zWMufUO8wC
— Ochieng' Ogodo (@ochiengogodo) September 13, 2020
After failing to hang who killed Tom Mboya, they have the guts to take down the Tom Mboya Statue
@Citizen_Alert1 @lagaless @_fels1 @YussufMwinyi @Olaf_Ke @OwenAbong @yourspenfully @chothep https://t.co/49R9t91ZMT— C H I E F, the NuriaStore Bookseller (@bennetowuonda) September 13, 2020
Tom Mboya statue removed, reasons are unclear.
— Surveyor wako wa Narok. (@langatvick) September 14, 2020
Si mlitukana mama?
Mtoto wake sasa ameng'oa statue ya Tom Mboya aweke ya mathake ndio msikie hivyo.
Na hakuna kitu mtado 🤣🤣🤣 https://t.co/cUNE1CcGxW— Mr. B (@Benogola) September 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/gabrieloguda/status/1305241485160460293?s=20
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