logo

Eric Omondi not fighting Ruto but rotten system - Mutahi Ngunyi

"He is fighting an age-long system that is rotten from the core and to the core."

image
by SHARON MWENDE

News22 February 2023 - 15:55

In Summary


  • He added that the system was "rotten", citing the Arab Spring proportion.
  • The Arab Spring was a series of anti-government protests and armed rebellions that spread across much of the Arab world in the early 2010s leading to the ouster of various leaders. 
Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi

Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi has said revolutions often attract the most unlikely leaders.

Referring to the demonstration led by comedian Eric Omondi on Tuesday, Ngunyi said he was fighting a system that has been there for long.

He added that the system was "rotten", citing the Arab Spring proportion.

The Arab Spring was a series of anti-government protests and armed rebellions that spread across much of the Arab world in the early 2010s leading to the ouster of various leaders. 

"Revolutions attract the most unlikely leaders. Remember the lumpen who burnt himself to death and ignited the Arab Spring collapsing governments?" he asked.

"Eric Omondi is not fighting (President William)Ruto. He is fighting an age-long system that is rotten from the core and to the core."

On Wednesday, Omondi led a group of bare-chested men in demonstrating against the rising cost of living in the streets of Nairobi.

They waved placards chanting bado mapambano (the struggle is on) as they made their way to Parliament buildings demanding an audience with Speaker Moses Wetang'ula.

"Stima juu, maji juu, unga juu, tax juu" were the words written on the placards. 

The group sat across Parliament road, obstructing traffic, as they sang songs to rally youth not to sleep on their laurels in the face of a struggle for better living conditions.

"Vijana msilale, bado mapambano," they sang. 

The comedian was arrested alongside  17 others and were on Wednesday charged with taking part in an unlawful assembly on Parliament Road.

They denied the charge and were released on Sh20,000 bond or an alternative cash bail of Sh10,000.

The Arab uprising began in Tunisia before spreading to Libya, Egypt, Yemen, Syria and Bahrain.

In Tunisia, where the uprising was a response to corruption and economic stagnation,  Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire.

His actions on December 17, 2010, acted as a catalyst for the revolution.

Later on, in 2011, Mohamed was posthumously awarded the Sakharov Prize for his contributions to "historic changes in the Arab world".

He was also named the "Person of 2011" by The Times of the UK.


logo© The Star 2024. All rights reserved