Comedian and activist Eric Omondi has expressed disappointment after being blocked from accessing Uhuru Park to begin preparations for his planned Tuko Kadi concert scheduled for Sunday.
Omondi said his team arrived at the venue on Friday morning, ready to set up, only to be denied entry despite what he described as having followed all required procedures with the relevant authorities.
“This morning we went to Uhuru Park to set up, but we were not allowed. We were stopped from accessing it despite having done everything. We started this process long ago,” he said.
He explained that he had engaged multiple agencies in advance, including county offices, police leadership, and electoral officials, to secure approvals and coordinate logistics for the free civic event aimed at encouraging youth voter participation.
“I went to county offices, and I was given instructions on who is in charge of what. I was called by the office. I wrote a second letter and delivered it personally,” he said.
Omondi further stated that he had met senior police officers, including the Nairobi regional commander, and held planning meetings with the Officer Commanding Station (OCS) Central police station, where security arrangements were agreed upon.
He also claimed that he engaged officials from the electoral agency, including Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) commissioner Anne Nderitu, where discussions on partnership and possible sponsorship were held.
“We had a very long meeting with the OCS. We planned for security. I also met the IEBC commissioner and they agreed to partner with us,” he said.
However, despite what he termed as full compliance with procedures, Omondi claimed his team was later informed that “orders from above” had halted the event setup at the last minute.
“This morning, we were told there are orders from above. I was very disappointed and heartbroken, but I was not surprised,” he said.
The entertainer, who has increasingly used public events to promote civic education, said the concert was intended to be free of charge, with artists agreeing to perform pro bono as part of corporate social responsibility efforts.
He also revealed that he had personally invested savings into the project and now faces financial losses following the disruption.
“I have lost a lot of money. They allowed me to go through the entire process legally and then sabotaged it at the end,” he said.
Omondi insisted that the event was designed to encourage young people, particularly Gen Z voters, to register and participate in civic processes.
“This is civic education. We are encouraging young people to take their voter’s cards,” he added.
Despite the setback, he said he was still in discussions with relevant authorities and exploring alternatives, including possibly relocating the event to Kenyatta Avenue, pending police approval.
“I want to assure you that God is going to step in on our behalf. This battle now belongs to God,” he said.
He further expressed regret for fans who had already made travel plans, saying some attendees were coming from as far as Bungoma and Mombasa.
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