Two weeks after presidential election results were announced, residents of Kibra go about their business as usual with most premises open.
Anthony Ian, 24, would have been on the streets protesting the just concluded presidential election results where the electoral commissioned declared William Ruto winner with 50.49 per cent of the total votes against Raila Odinga's 48.85 per cent.
Even though he believes that Raila won the election, Ian said this year, he packed his motorcycle and went to the house.
“I am angry but I am hungry too. When there is violence, we cannot work. No one wants to leave their house,” he said.
“The most important thing for many of us now is peace so we can continue doing business. Times are tough."
Though Ian is enjoying the peace now, he said that the country, especially Kibra, is not settled. The final determination, he believes, will be determined by the Supreme Court.
Millicent Auma, a vegetable vendor, said that the current peace is fleeting, and can only be spoken about after the Supreme Court verdict.
“Do not mistake the calm that is now for peace. We have chosen to remain quiet as we wait for the Supreme Court to make a ruling,” she said.
Auma attributed the current peace to the call by Raila, urging his supporters to remain calm as they pursue justice through the courts.
“We do not think the election was free and fair, but we remain calm,” she added.
Over the years, the vegetable said, many of the residents have learnt that violence does not solve anything and are a bit reluctant to go to the streets.
“All the kiosks here were razed down by angry protesters in the 2017 election. We are the ones that went at a loss,” she said.
“However, some people believe that they are fighting for the right course and we cannot control that.”
Auma recounted how after the 2017 demonstrations took a tribal turn, she saw a pregnant woman who was in labour and was getting out going to the hospital, but got stabbed by angry protesters.
The experience and tough economic times has kept her off the streets, but she too remains worried of how the situation will be after the Supreme Court verdict.
“People are tired. It is difficult to go to the streets on an empty stomach. However, I am scared because if they are too agitated they will go, and it will be worse. A hungry man is an angry man,” she said.
Immediately the results were announced, there were pockets of protests around the country. In Kibra, it was concentrated at the Kamukunji Grounds.
This time, however, it was different because the residents had almost been so sure of a victory that they only came out for one mission, to celebrate.
Raila spoke a day after the poll agency announcement and asked his supporters to keep calm and maintain peace as they moved to petition the election at the apex court.
Fredrick Ochenge has lived in Kiandaa in Kibra for more than 15 years.
He said "Kibra has remained peaceful, contrary to expectations of the people."
"A lot of people are not satisfied with the results and we have seen the evidence presented in the Supreme Court showing illegalities in the tallying.
“We in Kibra believe that justice will be served in the Supreme Court. However, we are worried what might happen if that is not the case. A lot of people have chosen to close their shops until after verdict of the petition,” he said.
Ochenge runs a chemist in Kiandaa where the residents gather every morning to read newspapers and discuss politics.
From the discussion, Ochenge said he has picked that the residents believe it is Raila’s last shot at being president, and if they are convinced that the election was not free and fair, violence could erupt.
“The year 2017 was terrible. My shop was burnt down and I had to rebuild,” he said.
Mary Njeri, a Bombolulu resident in Kibra, said she took out all valuables from her salon and locked it for two days prior to the presidential results announcement.
“I knew anything would happen so I closed shop on August 15 and 16. For those two days, I lost around Sh2,000,”she said.
“For a person who lives from hand to mount to fend for myself and my 12-year-old child, that is too much money.”
(edited by Amol Awuor)
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