jamhuri Day drama
Radio presenter and comedian Walter Mong’are, popularly known as Nyambane, is arrested at the Nyayo Stadium as he protested against the new media law. Photo/PETERSON GITHAIGA
In Summary
- President forced to cut short his speech as arrests mark independence celebrations
Protests over attempts to muzzle the media, rising food prices and failure by MPs to pay taxes forced the President to cut short his speech during Friday’s Jamhuri Day celebrations.
Four television and radio personalities were among 53 people who were arrested by police in day-long protests in parts of the country.
QFM radio morning show presenter Walter Mong’are popularly known as “Nyambane”, Kiss FM’s Carolyne Mutoko, Larry Asego and Felix Odiwuor Kodhe (Jalang’o) were held by police for more than six hours before they were released.
Mr Mong’are was wrestled to the ground and kicked by senior police officers as he made his way into the stadium dressed in clothes resembling those worn by prisoners to symbolise impending imprisonment of media if a Bill passed by Parliament on Wednesday is signed into law.
Those arrested were first held at Langata, Buruburu, Gigiri and Nyayo Stadium police stations.
Mr Mong’are and Mr Frederick Odhiambo of Bunge la Mwananchi lobby were moved to Nairobi area police headquarters.
In Mombasa, journalists covering the celebrations had tape strapped around the mouth as a way of protesting the law allowing a government-appointed commission to determine broadcast content, and giving the Minister for Internal Security powers to raid media houses.
Ms Mutoko was arrested as she arrived at Nyayo Stadium dressed in a black T-Shirt with the inscription “No Tax, No Tax utado? (What will you do)?”.
Presidential security officers descended on Mr Odhiambo after he shot up from his sit and started shouting.
He was sitting about 10 metres behind the President and it is not clear how he got entry into the VIP dais. President Kibaki who presided over the ceremony was forced to cut short his speech after Mr Odhiambo caused a stir.
The Head of State had just started giving his off the cuff speech in Kiswahili when Mr Odhiambo suddenly started shouting.
Shortly before the incident, an angry President who had apparently been appalled by heckles and shouts of ‘njaa, njaa tunaka chakula na MPs walipe ushuru’, (hunger, hunger, we want food and MPs must pay taxes) had said:
“Wapigane wale wanataka kupigana.” (Let those who want to fight do so). The President had made the remarks after a section of the crowd shouted at him when he started giving his Kiswahili speech.
However, the crowd was silent when he was delivering his Jamhuri Day message to the Nation in English.
At the dais, the VIPs appeared shocked by Mr Odhiambo’s protest.
Those who sat near him had started to walk away. Others watched in horror as the security agents wrestled him covering his mouth while struggling to eject him from area.
The President, First Lady, Lucy, Prime minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka immediately left the podium with other VIPs in tow.
A similar incident had taken place during the entertainments when comedian Walter Mong’are attempted to access the podium.
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