A section of Gor Mahia fans took to social media to express their shock after the Tom Mboya statue in Nairobi's Central Business District was removed on Sunday afternoon.
National Museum of Kenya took the statue down and revealed that it would undergo renovations after years of been vandalized.
Workers clear what is left of the Tom Mboya statue along Moi Avenue after it was removed to undergo renovations on September 14, 2020.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
National Museums Director General Mzalendo Kibunjia confirmed the ongoing renovations will cost Sh4 million and it will be ready after four months.
The Tom Mboya statue in Nairobi.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
“We received Sh4 million from the Sports Fund for renovation of the statue which was in bad shape. The pavement had been littered and the hand stolen. It has generally been vandalized by Gor Mahia fans and we had to rectify that,” he told Nation Sport on Monday.
“I am making a plea to Gor Mahia fans to return the hand that was stolen so as to make the exercise easy. However, after it is returned will shall enhance security at the venue more so if Gor Mahia has matches so that they cannot vandalise it and make Tom Mboya be seen as only a Luo hero,” he added.
Gor Mahia fans at the Tom Mboya statue in Nairobi on November 3, 2013 prior to kick-off.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
The statue was erected in 2011 by the Government just metres away from where the Trade Unionist om Mboya was assassinated. Mboya was one of the founders of Gor Mahia in 1968.
Gor fans made it a tradition to visit the site prior to and after their matches to seek 'blessings' since it was put up nine years ago. On Sunday, the bronze monument, which was done by artist Oshottoe Ondula, was removed and taken to the National Museums of Kenya headquarters.
Perhaps on such a day enthusiastic Gor Mahia fans would have been at the venue seeking godly favours or offering thanksgiving for their team's win.
The fans flocked social media and had divergent opinions, some questioning whether it would be brought back after being renovated.
Workers clear what is left of the Tom Mboya statue along Moi Avenue after it was removed to undergo renovations on September 14, 2020.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Others claimed that it was bad omen and they should have been called upon to perform a ritual before its removal.
“Tom Mboya Statue has been removed, what's our next converging point before heading to wuon timbe games (Gor Mahia) in Tok Komwanda (City Stadium)?", wrote Baba Shawn on Facebook.
Osee Osewe wrote, “These guys have killed Mboya again!!. Where will the Gor Mahia fans visit for rituals whenever there's a match? AFC fans must be behind this.... I saw them carry him today and I cried."
“The most neglected and vandalised statue in the city. No worries it should be renovated and brought back before the league kicks off,” wrote Maurice Otieno.
People walk along the Tom Mboya statue which was removed to undergo renovations on September 14, 2020.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
"Juogi odag i (the spirits have refused), we may have a tough season,” said Wycliff Okoth, insisting that a prayer should have been held by the fans at the site before the statue was removed.
In June 2019, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua decried the sorry state of the monument and offered to personally repair it, an incident which irked Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko.
Besides the religious aspect, businessmen selling K'Ogalo merchandise have also been making a killing near the statue every weekend the club has a fixture in the league or other competitions.
