Tomorrow morning, various civil society groups, students and other non-state actors have organized the first ever public commemoration of devolution icon Dr. Odhiambo Mbai at Uhuru Park’s Freedom Corner.
At the time of his murder in 2004, a murder which TJRC report  concluded was ‘political assassination’, Dr. Mbai was the Chairperson of Devolution Select Committee.
Unlike today, devolution was one of the most contested and contentious issues during Bomas constitution making process. He was murdered only days after he had effusively delivered a passionate speech to the Bomas Delegates of the benefits of devolution.
His death, and the intransigence of the government led to the constitution fallout which forced the government to proceed alone and make a draft of the constitution at Kilifi. The Kilifi Draft would later be presented in the 2005 referendum and defeated by the No side (Orange side).
“The struggle of people against power is the struggle of memory against forgetting so let’s come and celebrate the contribution of Dr. Mbai” reads the invite to the event.
Tomorrow marks the 12th Anniversary of this assassination, a great national loss.
CORD Leader Raila Odinga expected to attend.
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