Residents of Kericho marked Saba Saba Day Monday by reinstalling a UDA wheelbarrow monument vandalised by a group of youth during June 25 protests.
The symbolic wheelbarrow, erected in the heart of the town to demonstrate support for President William Ruto, was brought down during commemorations to mark one year of the anti-Finance Bill protests.
Led by some local politicians and elders from the Myoot Council, the residents held a peaceful procession and prayer meeting outside Moi Gardens before marching to the site to reinstall the wheelbarrow.
"We are reinstalling the wheelbarrow as a symbol of unity and respect," one of the organisers said.
The group distanced itself from the earlier destruction, blaming it on what they termed as "hired hooligans" intent on disrupting peace in the county.
Elders who spoke at the event urged for continued calm and reaffirmed the region's support for President Ruto.
“I want to thank the youth for heeding the call by elders and the church to promote peace. We desire peace and stability in our region,” an elder said.
This marks the second time the wheelbarrow has been reinstalled.
In June 2024, youth from the county pulled it down in protest against the Finance Bill, which they termed punitive. It was re-erected a month later following intervention by local leaders.
On this year’s Saba Saba Day, the Myoot Council of Elders once again led the youth in a show of unity, urging them to channel their energy toward dialogue and development.
The wheelbarrow monument has remained hoisted in the town and in other UDA strongholds across the country since the 2022 campaigns.
