There was a public uproar after City Hall named a road after Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli in the upmarket Kileleshwa.
Kenyans admonished the City Hall administration for what they termed as a “joke of the year” considering Kenyan global icons have never been honoured.
Kenyans took to the social media and gave their view on the matter.
“Cliff Ubba Kodero II wondered why true heroes and leaders are not honoured.
“We don’t have Denis Oliech road. We don’t have Paul Tergat road. We don’t have general Opande road. We also don’t have roads named after Kinjeketile Ngwale, Samoei Arap Koitalel, Lwanda Magere, etc. in short, we don’t honour our TRUE heroes and leaders. We honour thieves.” Kodero wondered.
Emanuel Mwangi asked if the county government in the city had fallen short of names.
“The Kenya we are in has a problem there are more Kenyans deserving than this so called trade unionist,” he said.
Boniface Mailu said, “Petty and inept county instead of tackling the serious challenges in Nairobi they are naming roads after an equally useless fellow!!”
The road was unveiled yesterday in the presence of Nairobi Deputy Governor Ann Kananu and other leaders.
Atwoli has expressed gratitude for the honour bestowed upon him.
“I want to thank the leadership of Nairobi County, under Ann Kananu for this great honour and recognition of services to the Government of the day, the community and Workers at large. We will continue offering our unwavering support to the leadership of the County,” he stated.
Speaking at the unveiling event, Nairobi City County Deputy Governor and acting Governor, Ann Kananu said the road has been renamed in recognition of Atwoli’s contribution and agitating for the rights of the Kenyan workers in the last 54 years.
The renaming was supervised by Nairobi County Roads and Transport executive Mohammed Dagane.
The honour came just months after a road previously known as First Avenue in Eastleigh, Nairobi, was named after the late Garissa Senator Yusuf Haji.
One of the Nairobi Central Business District’s busiest roads was also renamed Kenneth Matiba in honour of the veteran politician.
The Nairobi county assembly passed a motion to rename Accra Road after the former Ford Asili party leader.