Machakos Governor Dr Alfred Mutua has criticised the national government for neglecting statues of independence heroes within the Nairobi central business district.
Speaking after visiting the Tom Mboya and Dedan Kimathi statutes which are on Moi and Mama Ngina Avenues on Tuesday, Mutua said he will “personally repair and maintain the statues for as long as it takes or those concerned wake up from their slumber”.
“I am disgusted by the shameful state of neglect and disrepair of the statues. I am actually affected by their state because I participated actively in the policy for their construction, with Ambassador Francis Muthaura, when I served as the government spokesperson,” Mutua said.
“This disrepair and neglect is an example of what happens when instead of concentrating on serving Wananchi, leaders are involved in propaganda campaigns and political activities for higher office. They are more concerned with elections three years away than the state of our youth, women and government services,” the Machakos Governor said.
The issue had been raised earlier by activist Boniface Mwangi who posted on Twitter,” “I have news for you, there is no Superman (it’s up to us.)” – Tom Mboya. Mboya’s monument is a crying shame @MikeSonko. Can @StanChartKE repair it? Its good PR and it’s infront of their bank.”
In what could be interpreted as a swipe at Culture CS Amina Mohamed and her ministry, Mutua said, “Surely, we do not expect President Uhuru Kenyatta to personally visit, clean and repair Tom Mboya‘s or Dedan Kimathi’s statues. His people are letting him down and heads should roll. This is an embarrassment to President Uhuru and his government.”
“I fail to understand leaders who are busy clamoring for positions of power after 2022 and currently unable to take care of business that affects Kenyans. We have to reject such leadership. That is why we need a wind of change come 2022. Kenyans deserve better,” the governor added.
Mboya’s statue that cost Sh20 million was unveiled by President Mwai Kibaki on the eve of Mashujaa Day in October 2011 as a tribute to his “remarkable contributions” to Kenya, and to “honour the departed hero and remind the nation of whom he was” and “what he stood for”. It took 42 years to honour him.
It was the second statue to be gazetted as a national treasure, after that of freedom fighter Kimathi in 2007, which cost the government Sh4.5 million.
