This archive report was first published on 14 October 2021.
Published on October 14, 2021, a motion to rename Mbagathi Way after Raila Odinga was approved by the Nairobi County Assembly. The road, a major artery in the city, is conveniently located in the constituency Raila represented in parliament for many years.
The motion, sponsored by Makongeni MCA Peter Imwatok, received wide support among other members of the county assembly. Imwatok noted that Raila fought for a greater democratic space, good governance, rule of law, and development of infrastructure against innumerable odds.
Although the assembly okayed the name change, there is still one last step before it can actually happen. The Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) introduced a policy guide on how roads shall in future be renamed, following the uproar that followed when a road was renamed after COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli.
A County Addressing Unit comprising of members from the county and national governments will have the final say. The unit will review the name change proposal and make a decision.
As part of the motion, nominated MCA Mary Arivisa proposed that public institutions along Mbagathi Way should also be renamed to reflect the road name change. Two of them are Mbagathi Primary School and Mbagathi Hospital, which should become Raila Odinga Primary School and Raila Odinga Hospital in the proposal.
