Coffins on the Streets of Nairobi; Coffin-ated Protests!

Forty-nine coffins were slowly carried along three prominent Nairobi streets yesterday. The empty caskets painted the streets black as they moved slowly atop the heads of their carriers. It was a scary sight but the youthful enthusiastic ‘pallbearers’ went about their business without care as they sang dirges to mark the ‘funeral’ conducted along Kenyatta, Moi and Harambee Avenues. 

The carriers often stopped after walking short distances, kneeled and projected their voices to surrounding offices or none in particular then rose and shot up placards carrying a set of messages—most renouncing poor leadership, embezzlement of public funds and misuse of youths by politicians. 

The youths said recent developments in Parliament where members of parliament passed amendments to existing Acts but were denied their way by the President was an indication that the legislators cared not about other Kenyans problems but theirs. They said the public ‘funeral’ of the deeds by the MPs would send a message to them that they were no longer in sync with the majority of the youths.

“We are conducting this funeral for actions by those selfish legislators. We would like them to know we are not in agreement with their actions,” said a visibly infuriated Calvins Otieno his left hand tightly attached to a coffin.  

“We are tired of these leaders and their selfish undertakings. Can’t they think of us one day,” Sheilah Vugutsa, “I’m so happy to be part of this funeral,” she added then raised up two micro-Kenyan flags tagged in her shoulders in unison with others.  

The coffins, the mark of death often locally feared in equal sense as death itself, seemed not to scare the very first nor the last of the demonstrators as they swung them up and down, sideways, on their heads and others wilfully sat on them. Others still drum them forcing out a merging sound to the dirges sang along. At various stops, they took a minute to sing the national anthem, and they carried banners, of the Kenya, Leaders, and future that the people want.

Those caught unawares on the streets seemed to savour the occasion but scared faces could be seen as their eyes got fixed on the passing coffins. 

A driver of a Kenya Bus along Kenyatta Avenue threw his head out and mouthed “endelea vivyo hivyo. Tuko na nyinyi.” No one heard him as his voice was easily consumed by the noisy ‘mourners’ but he must have been satisfied with his contribution as he drove away immediately his face showing some joy.

The convener of the demonstrations, Boniface Mwangi, said the 49 coffins presented “the 49 years of independence marked by endless impunity, multiple scandals and ripe corrupt activities.” He defended the use of coffins saying they did not show any disrespect of the death but a symbol of the willingness of Kenyans to “kill evils that have bedevilled their country for long.” 

Each of the coffins was emblazoned with prominent scandals including Goldenberg, Anglo Leasing, Triton, NHIF funds, Grand Regency, the Artur Brothers nuisance and other societal ills such as Drugs menace and money laundering. 

The coffins were placed outside parliament rail wall on Harambee Avenue attracting parliamentary staff who rushed to the scene to behold the leaning coffins. 

Police officers tagged along the noisy group and held on to their tools of trade—guns—as they kept vigil on them. Kisumu Town East MP Shakeel Shabir almost got into trouble as he walked into Parliament and was surrounded by demonstrators. He exonerated himself from the recent bills that were adopted by parliament and was let go. 

Now, if our politicians didn't hear naked cries, hope they'll hear the 'coffin-ated' ones laced with dirges. Hope so.