A road signage named after the veteran trade unionist Francis Atwoli cannot follow in the footsteps of its owner, who has been Cotu’s Secretary-General for a long time.
Nairobi residents Tuesday morning woke up to images of Francis Atwoli Road sign in Kileleshwa, Nairobi, up in flames. The road was recently named after the firebrand trade unionist.
But as soon as the fire had settled, Nairobi county officials replaced it with another one.
And reacting to the latest development, Mr Atwoli said that bringing down the signage did not hurt him.
“On the flipside, it will haunt, for lie, those who are behind it…How do you sleep at night knowing you are a vandal?” Mr Atwoli tweeted on Tuesday.
This is not the for time the signage is being vandalised by unknown individuals since City Hall renamed Dik Dik Road after the trade unionist last month.
Dik Dik is an extremely small animal, in the family of antelopes, believed to be the most faithful animal to ever grace the world.
The renaming of the road has divided opinions among Kenyans, with some supporting the move and others in opposition.
The road signage was brought down just a day after it was erected by the Nairobi City County government. However, it would be re-erected by the Ann Kananu-led administration two days later.
Atwoli added, “On the flip side, it will haunt, for life, those who are behind it. For how does it benefit them? How do you sleep at night knowing you are a vandal?”
The Cotu chief said his name is all over the world and one does not require street signage for them to know who Francis Atwoli is.
“The name will live in posterity taking into account my years of selfless service to the workers in Kenya and the world. If anything the signage was just an act of honour bestowed to me by Nairobians taking into account my many years of service.”
Renaming a road requires it first to be approved by the county assembly.
According to the Nairobi County Assembly standing orders, renaming a road should be introduced as a motion before the House and if approved, it is effected.
The recent renaming of other roads such as Accra road after legendary Kenneth Matiba in March 2021, Eastleigh’s first Avenue after Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji as well as Kapiti crescent road in South B after Joe Kadenge, were first debated and approved by the assembly.
While renaming Dik Dik road, only a notice of motion was issued by Roysambu MCA Peter Warutere during a special sitting, but it was not debated for approval or rejection. This was corroborated by the assembly hansard.
