I will limp to my next demonstration as soon as I am discharged, says injured NASA supporter

Owino Mawe, a Nasa supporter during recent demonstrations at Anniversary Towers.[Edward Kiplimo,Standard]

Last Monday, Owino Mawe, 50, left his house in Korogocho, Nairobi, at exactly 4am. With dummies of oranges strapped on his neck, he began his walk towards the town centre, chanting songs about his party leader Raila Odinga, and occasionally stopping to blow the vuvuzela.

He was answering to the call of NASA leaders to supporters to show up and demonstrate against the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

“I have never missed a demonstration. I was not about to skip this one,” says Mr Owino, who is admitted to Kenyatta National Hospital after he was injured during the protests.

Most people are familiar with Owino’s image. He started his ‘passion for demos’ in 2004, when the clamour for the referendum was at the peak.

At that time, Owino says he would use oranges, and weave them together to make a necklace that represented what he supported.  He was in the Orange camp.

A photo of him dancing without his shirt, wearing stringed oranges became his trademark. Anytime Raila called for supporters to show up and demonstrate, he obliged.

The media often captured him dancing for the cameras, and giving quotes he felt represented the voice of demonstrators.

“Demonstration is like a sport. When you support a team, you don’t ask questions,” he says.

The political wave in the country since 2004 has had his party leader calling for demonstrations. Owino says the cost of buying oranges and piecing them together became costly.

“At times, when demonstrators got hungry, they would start eating my ‘tools’. I had to look for an alternative,” he says, letting out a loud laugh.

He travelled to Tanzania to buy orange dummies. That purchase, he says, became one of the most valuable things he has ever bought.

“It meant I could demonstrate for however long I wanted. The dummies cannot rot, and they cannot be eaten. What I love most is that they are light, so I can demonstrate without getting tired,” he says.

On Monday, while dancing at Kenyatta Avenue, he was hit by a vehicle.

Owino says he heard gun shots before the vehicle ran over him a few minutes later.

“I fell. And was caught beneath the tyres. I tried standing, but I was in so much pain,” he says.

Ochieng Jera, who was also at the demonstration and claims to have taken Owino to hospital, says he was in a bad state.

KNH, through their communication officer confirmed that they received four victims injured during the demonstration.

“We don’t want to create a platform for exposing patients due to confidentiality, but all the patients went through surgery and are recovering,” said Simon Ithai, KNH communication officer.

Acting Interior CS Fred Matiang’i on Thursday warned against demonstrations in the CBDs in Kisumu, Nairobi and Mombasa, citing distraction of property and loss of business.

Business owners also decried the protests, saying they were forced to close for fear of looters while some premises were vandalised.

Owino, an ardent demonstrator says he is unstoppable. He suffered a broken leg, and fractured bones, but says he is unbowed.

“Only death silences a soldier. I will limp to my next demonstration as soon as I am discharged,” he says.