On the morning of Thursday, August 5th, Kenyan comedian Eric Omondi staged a protest on one of Nairobi’s busiest streets, leading to his arrest and a standstill in the Central Business District (CBD) for several hours. Omondi’s protest was aimed at raising awareness about the plight of street families in Nairobi and calling on the government to take action to help them.
The protest began at around 10 am when Omondi and a group of supporters gathered on Tom Mboya Street, one of the main thoroughfares in the CBD. They carried placards with messages such as “Street families are human too” and “Stop ignoring the homeless”. Omondi also dressed up as a street child, complete with tattered clothes and bare feet, to draw attention to the issue.
However, the protest quickly turned chaotic as police officers arrived on the scene and attempted to disperse the crowd. Omondi was arrested and taken to Central Police Station, where he was charged with creating a disturbance in a public place. He was later released on bail.
The protest caused major disruptions in the CBD, with traffic coming to a standstill and businesses forced to close their doors. Many Nairobi residents took to social media to express their frustration at the situation, with some criticizing Omondi for causing unnecessary chaos.
However, others praised Omondi for using his platform as a celebrity to draw attention to an important issue. Street families are a common sight in Nairobi, with many children forced to live on the streets due to poverty, family breakdown, or other factors. They often face abuse, exploitation, and neglect, and struggle to access basic necessities such as food, shelter, and healthcare.
Omondi’s protest was not the first time that the issue of street families has been raised in Kenya. In 2017, the government launched a program called “Inua Jamii” (lift the community) aimed at providing cash transfers to vulnerable households, including street families. However, the program has been criticized for being poorly implemented and failing to reach those who need it most.
The government has also been accused of neglecting the issue of street families and failing to provide adequate support and protection for them. Omondi’s protest was a call to action for the government to take the issue seriously and to do more to help those in need.
In conclusion, Eric Omondi’s protest on a busy Nairobi street may have caused chaos and disruption, but it also drew attention to an important issue that affects many Kenyans. Street families are a vulnerable and marginalized group who deserve support and protection from the government and society as a whole. Omondi’s actions may have been controversial, but they have helped to shine a spotlight on an issue that cannot be ignored.
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