Boda boda rider who stopped Uhuru’s convoy on Kisumu street invites President for another visit
Holding high President Uhuru Kenyatta's portrait, Benard Otieno Amunga managed to stop the head of State's convoy on Oginga Odinga Street in Kisumu, forcing the President to speak to residents. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
For his love of the party, Benard Otieno Amunga’s friends nicknamed him "ODM".
Mr Amungo is passionate in whatever he does — from defending his party and Opposition leader Raila Odinga to his boda boda business.
Two weeks ago, Mr Amunga almost single-handedly stopped President Uhuru Kenyatta’s motorcade in Kisumu.
The President was in town to open the second Devolution Conference held at the Tom Mboya Labour College.
The 28-year-old father of two stood in front of Mr Kenyatta’s motorcade at a zebra crossing on Oginga Odinga Street, forcing him to speak to residents.
Mr Kenyatta was en route to Kisumu International Airport after opening the conference and launching a slum upgrading programme in Nyalenda.
Amunga’s attempts to stop the President, however, drew the attention and wrath of Mr Kenyatta’s security detail, who roughed him up.
They probably thought he intended to cause chaos.
Bernard Otieno Amunga, nicknamed "ODM", who stopped the presidential convoy and asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to talk to Kisumu residents. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
SECURITY OFFICERS TRIED TO STOP HIM
The security personnel who were in a car ahead of Mr Kenyatta's vehicle wrestled the boda boda rider to the ground as they tried to pull him away from the road.
Holding the President’s portrait high, Mr Amunga began shouting Mr Kenyatta’s name and asking him to address them.
“Tunataka President Uhuru aongee na sisi (We want President Uhuru to speak to us),” he shouted as he fought to free himself from the police officers who were trying to silence him with blows.
By this time, curious onlookers had started milling around the President’s vehicle.
The commotion attracted the attention of the President, who decided to stop and address the milling crowd from atop his his vehicle.
“My decision to stop the President was a matter of life and death. I only had a minute to force him to speak to us.
"He is the President of Kenya and as Kisumu residents, he owed us greetings,” Mr Amunga told Nation.co.ke in an interview.
President Uhuru Kenyatta speaks to residents of Nyalenda in Kisumu after opening the second Devolution Conference. Mr Amunga's action ensured the President addressed the residents. PHOTO | PSCU
EXCLUSIVE PICTURES
The bold move not only gave the President’s press team exclusive pictures used on their official Facebook pages, but also pictures for the Nation's front page.
This was Mr Kenyatta’s first tour of the city that is the political bedrock of Cord leader Raila Odinga.
His last visit to the town was a stopover at Kisumu International Airport in 2014. He was going for the memorial ceremony of Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi’s father in Vihiga.
Speaking for the first time since the bold move, Mr Amunga told Nation.co.ke that his reason for stopping the convoy was to seek audience with the President over problems the youth in the county have faced after his pleas to local leaders to assist them failed.
The plan to stop the President’s convoy was hatched a day before the visit.
He had moved around town asking the youth to welcome the head of state to the county.
Amunga, popularly known as "ODM", operates a boda boda business in Kisumu. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
INFORMED TRAFFIC OFFICERS
On the material day, Mr Amunga said he approached traffic police officers who were clearing the roads and told them his intentions to stop the convoy.
This was to avoid a violent confrontation with the President’s security detail.
“On Monday before the President came, I went around town and mobilised youths to give him a heroic welcome. This was our only chance to show our love for him,” he said.
He said his initial idea was to stop the convoy as it made its way to town from the airport but changed the decision on learning the President was headed to Nyalenda slums.
“My colleagues asked me to accompany the President to Nyalenda and present my pleas, but I refused.
"I wanted him to speak to me at my place of work.
“I had armed myself with the President’s portrait, which I knew would draw his attention,” he said.
Amunga walks in the streets of Kisumu. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
STAUNCH ODM SUPPORTER
Mr Amunga was named "ODM" after the 2007 General Elections because of his support for Mr Odinga.
He was a leader in the party’s youth wing and was tasked with mobilising grassroots support.
It is through this that he built a reputation for himself as a chief campaigner for various politicians seeking to win elective posts in the county on an ODM ticket.
However, the boda boda rider says that he has not reaped much from politics.
“It has even become difficult to buy books and pay activity fees for my children, who are in public schools.
“Most of the time, I received handouts of Sh2,000 from the politicians which did not help much. I used to visit the governor’s office almost every month seeking his help. I have campaigned for him all this while, but nothing has been forthcoming,” he said.
In his address to the crowd, Mr Kenyatta promised to visit the city in six months to check on the progress of the projects he had launched.
Mr Amunga is now appealing to the President to visit the county again, saying they were ready to meet him.
He has also promised to lobby the youth in the county to support President Kenyatta come 2017.
“Since Kenya gained independence in 1963, we have never had (such) a kind and generous President like Mr Kenyatta.
"I want him to know that we are fully behind him as the President of this country.
“I will vote for him for a second term. Mr Kenyatta is the face of Kenya,” Amungo concludes gleefully.
