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Irate youths torched
one of the public toilets and ripped off roof of Kamukunji clinic in Kibera
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When the National Government kicked off the National Youth
Service (NYS) projects in Kibera slum, Michael Oyoo had one hope; that the
residents shall live in dignity with access to basic amenities. He had hoped that levels
of crime would drop; the slum would become accessible and that there would be
water available to the residents.
Oyoo was placed in charge
of more than 600 youths employed by the NYS. A clinic and a public toilet he
oversaw being constructed were destroyed during Monday night's fracas in
Kibera.
Capital FM report continues:
The chaos was as a result
of two youth groups that clashed over the development projects initiated by Devolution
Cabinet Secretary Anne Waiguru that left Oyoo worried "that my dream may
still remain that... a dream."
"Among the young
people undertaking these projects were reformed criminals and women who have
lost their husbands and have more than six children each," a visibly angry
Oyoo told Capital FM News.
"How will they feed
their families if the youths destroy everything?"
NYS projects in Kibera
alone, he said have seen over 3,000 young people engaged in development project
as well as earning more than 1,600 per week besides the Sh700 savings.
"The economy of
Kibera is improving... the situation will remain the same if we are not going
to accept these developments," he said.
The youths amounting to
300 are said to have torched one of the public toilets and also ripped off the
roof of the Kamukunji clinic in Kibera. When the Capital FM crew visited Kibera
on Tuesday morning, two youth groups were engaging in a fierce verbal exchange.
One group was for the
projects to continue while there rest were against but under the condition that
those who 'insulted' CORD leader Raila Odinga apologise.
Police officers had a
hard time trying to cool the rising tension but eventually managed after the
youths agreed that no activity should continue until the matter is resolved.
The group against the
projects has however vowed to ensure the projects do not continue until,
"the group that insulted Raila apologises to him."
"The Prime Minister
is against corruption within the ministry and not the projects... we need to
respect each other as Kenyans. We are not going to tolerate this anymore,"
a charged elderly man only identified as Engineer said.
To him, the government
was trying to undermine the opposition leader through their projects instead of
helping the residents.
"They have to go
back to town where they insulted 'baba' (CORD leader) and kneel down and ask
for forgiveness," he demanded.
Another said, "We
the people of Kibera are ready to defend our leader. All we are demanding is
respect."
More anti-riot police
officers have since been deployed to the slum which remains highly charged,
with youths demanding the withdrawal of security forces.
The ugly scenes followed
Monday street demonstrations by a group that appeared to support the CS while
castigating CORD leader Odinga who has been critical of Waiguru.
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