Several arrested at Uhuru Park amid parallel Mashujaa Day celebrations

A number of activists who had planned parallel Mashujaa Day celebrations at Uhuru Park in Nairobi to commemorate those who died during the Gen Z protests were arrested as police used tear gas canisters to disperse them.

Police officers who had blocked the park since morning used tear gas canisters to stop the protestors from accessing the park to honour tens who died during the anti-government protests.

“Young people have died, over 61 of them quarry young women were butchered and we have no answers and this government continues to act as if they do not know that young people exist and they lived, we have mothers here whose sons were abducted,” activist Nerima Wako said.

Another activist Christine Wafula added, “This country is about the people and sovereign power belongs to the people therefore today we sit here, it is symbolic, it is symbolic and we rem those who fought before us and we celebrate the shujaas who are dead.

The activists condemned the use of force by police to scuttle their planned remembrance event, saying the park is a public place.

“I came with my wife and kids in the morning tukafukuzwa na polisi na vile niliondoka hapo wale wanifuata kina Eric Omondi, Kahlid who came to the park na wakashikwa kuna kijana anaitwa Hezbon Baraza saa hii ako hospitali Kenyatta alipigwa risasi na polisi,” said activist Boniface Mwangi.

“We are asking the government and the President,  why are you killing the young people? Hakukuwa na fujo, it’s a park.”

Wako added: “We will not forget the 61, there are families who have not been compensated to date, there are families who have not been supported to date and it has not even been discussed in Parliament.”

The Nairobi County government had also warned the organizers of the event that Uhuru Park remains open to the public daily and can be booked for events but would be reserved for exclusive use during public holidays.

“Nobody is being arrested by the county government, if you are peaceful you will access the park to enjoy with your family and on a public holiday events are not held in the park during public holidays, we allow families to go and enjoy with their loved ones,” said Geoffrey Mosiria, the county’s Environment Chief of Staff.

The activists also questioned the nomination of Kithure Kindiki as deputy president, saying they needed answers on the killings.