I do agree with Phil’s comments on Kibera and being well conversant with Kibera residents, I was very disappointed with the violence that erupted again in Kibera when Mr. Money bags Livondo decided to move with his entourage of vijana na Kibaki to Kibera after holding a rally at Uhuru Park.
I do not support political violence in any form or from supporters of anyone even my favorite Presidential candidate. I also agree that it is every ones constitutional right to vie for a civic or parliamentary seat anywhere in this Country. Freedom of movement is also every Citizen’s right.
On the other hand, I believe that all political rallies or demonstration should be licensed. ODM was not allowed to hold their rally at Uhuru Park because the authorities claimed it was not licensed (even with all the papers from City Council allowing them to hold the function) and two other groups in favor of the government were approved.
Approved or not the Livondo group got the go ahead to hold their rally, but were they allowed to hold a demonstration to Kibera and another rally? Obviously this was a move to create tension in the area and cause ethnic animosity.
I had a meeting in Kibera the next day and was debating whether I should go or not, I thought there was ethnic tension amongst groups supporting Livondo and ODM Presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
I went to my meeting anyway and the area was as peaceful as ever. The only commotion was at the Dos office (people call the place DC), people waiting to be ferried to Nyayo Stadium to attend the Presidential launch. In fact some touts told his friends endeni DC watu wanapewa pesa.
I later enquired from my friends what happened the previous day. They told me most of those throwing stones where Livondo’s supporters and not Kibera residents. Earlier in the morning Kibera residents were told to go to Ngong Hills hotel to be given money by Livondo’s people, they got the money but men snatched all the money from women.
Livondo addressed a crowd in Kibera and decided to introduce his wife, he told the crowd that his wife is called Ida. Immediately he said that, he was jeered and booed by the crowd saying ana tumia jina la shemeji wetu (he is using our in-laws name), referring to Raila’s wife Ida, I was amused by this and wondered if his wife is really Ida or he thinks he can get more sympathy from Kibera by baptizing his wife Ida. Some of Livondo’s supporters removed T-shirts when they reached Kibera for fear of being seen in that group.
As much as it is Livondo’s constitutional right to vie for a seat anywhere he likes, he should not interfere with peaceful loving Kibera residents by using abusive language in the name of acquiring votes. Then claim it is his opponent inciting his supporters to stop his bid.
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