Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has told off those opposing the naming of a road in Kileleshwa, Nairobi after COTU boss Francis Atwoli.
Weighing in on Atwoli’s defense, Kuria said that unless those opposing the renaming of the road can prove the law was broken, then the matter should not raise controversy.
"I disagree with those opposing the naming of Dik Dik Avenue after Atwoli. It is the prerogative of the Nairobi Governor unless you demonstrate that she broke the law,” Kuria said.
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Nairobi Deputy Governor Anne Kananu named the road after Atwoli on Thursday, May 27 in a move that has raised debate online.
“Total disgrace to name a street in Nairobi after Atwoli. What are we telling poor workers he abandoned for the sake of my beloved Jubilee?
He is a billionaire in a country where labour is enslaved by capital owners. He dines and wines with the rich and powerful,” lawyer Ahmednasir Abdullahi said in a statement.
However, Nairobi acting governor Anne Kananu remained firm, saying renaming the road was a gesture in recognition of Atwoli’s contributions during his decades-long career.
“This road has been renamed after my good friend and brother, Francis Atwoli, in recognition of his selfless contribution and agitating for the rights of Kenyan workers in the last 54 years,” Kananu said.
A few days after the road was unveiled, unknown persons pulled down the signpost.
Photos of the road signpost on the ground hit the internet with a resounding wave of dissenting opinions with netizens agreeing and disagreeing on the renaming of the road after the firebrand trade unionist.
In his response, Atwoli said that the police will look into the matter adding: “In a country that believes in the rule of Law there are procedures and processes to be followed when unsatisfied.”
K24 digital has learned that Standing Orders stipulate that a motion calling for renaming of a road after a prominent person must first be discussed and later the assembly agrees to pass it.
Then the assembly’s Implementation Committee can write to the county executive, communicating the approved Motion.
It is after this that the executive will, within three months, be expected to effect the request or reject it. However, none of this happened.
In this case, only a Notice of Motion was given by Roysambu MCA Peter Warutere during a Special Sitting on Thursday last week.
Defending the move by Kananu, Kuria said, “in any case Mr Dik Dik who is being renamed is not your uncle. Governor Anya’ng Nyongo will name a street in Kisumu after me.”
