He revealed that Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja had granted access to the popular grounds and would provide county security to attendees as the event goes on.
The revamped Uhuru Park will on Sunday, July 7 host a memorial concert set to honour protesters who died during demonstrations against the Finance Bill 2024.
This was confirmed on Thursday, July 4 by activist Boniface Mwangi who invited Kenyans to turn up in their numbers for the event. It will be held at Uhuru Park from 12.00 noon to 7.00 pm. Entry is free.
“The ShuGenz Memorial concert to honour our heroes who died during the protests is on Sunday 7th July, from 12:00-7:00 pm,” Mwangi posted on X.
He revealed that Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja had granted access to the popular grounds and would provide county security to attendees as the event goes on.
Posters for the upcoming ‘ShuGenZ’ concert set for July 7, 2024. /BONIFACE MWANGI
Whereas the list of performing artists and emcees among others is yet to be revealed, Mwangi promised that “More details to follow. Tag a friend, an artist. Bring flowers.”
It was also yet to be revealed if those wishing to follow the concert but are unable to attend it in person would follow it via live stream, though this is expected to be taken into consideration.
Mwangi had previously announced plans to have a concert on Saturday, July 6 to honour those who died during last month’s anti-government protests.
“We wanted to have a concert on Saturday. Watupatie Uhuru Park tufanye (They should allow us to use Uhuru Park for the) concert on Saturday to honour those the government murdered. Sakaja can we get access to Uhuru Park on Saturday as is? Who do we speak to?” He posed.
Mwangi added that his phone calls to the Governor went unanswered, but Shaffie Weru, who runs the events docket in Nairobi County, had reached out to him and asked him to make his request in writing.
He also hinted that this would be a concert akin to the one he helped organise for the Garissa massacre victims in 2015.
On his part, Governor Sakaja told the media that he gave the green light for the concert, adding that he had no concerns because the event was for a good cause.
“It is true. I have received requests for a concert to be held at Uhuru Park and I see no problem with it because it is generally for good,” he said,
Adding “Uhuru Park belongs to Kenyans and Nairobians; it doesn’t belong to me. I am just a steward over that resource. I know it is currently an active crime scene but I hope the DCI will conclude.“
The Nairobi Governor added that even he would attend the concert. He said “We will support that expression; that concert is in honour of young people who we lost. It is good to honour them and their families and see what support we can give them. I will attend because these are my constituents.”
The concert will mark the first time the renovated park has hosted a concert since the Nairobi Festival held in December last year.
The event will also take place on the same day Kenya marks Saba Saba Day, which is remembered as the day when nationwide protests took place on July 7, 1990, with Kenyans taking to the streets to demand free elections.
Entrance to the newly-renovated Uhuru Park. /NAIROBI METROPOLITAN SERVICES