Singing heroes at Bomas: The choir that never stopped amid chaos
In what can be analogized to a simian clinging to a tree on the heaviest of storms, trusting that the trunk won’t give and let him fall to his expiration, the choir at Bomas heroically weathered the televised storm at the Bomas of Kenya on the afternoon that Kenya was set to know her president-elect.
On August 15, millions of Kenyans and interested observers from abroad were anxiously glued to their screens watching and waiting for the declaration of a winner in the historic election.
At first, politicians from both sides of the divide who had gathered in the Bomas auditorium were cordial, a display that could be appreciated as a show of cohesion and readiness to accept the outcome of the election result. They sang and danced to the patriotic songs resonating in the packed hall, and everyone was smiling as they patiently stood by for the big announcement.
Clad in black, and white with an element of green and red, a representation of the Kenyan flag, the singers sang their hearts out in unison perhaps convincing Kenyans that all will be well and should be well. As the set time for the announcement passed by a huge margin the choir proved to have been prepared for the task, they simply pulled another song from their heavy catalogue and continued to manage the tension.
After more than two hours of delay, patience began to run out and when leaders from the Azimio-One Kenya Coalition started walking in and out, there was a general sense that something was happening behind the scenes that not all were privy to.
Not long after a scuffle with physical altercations ensued and before police could take control of the situation, chairs were hurled and the wooden lectern featuring the IEBC seal was thrown from a height and broke into two.
In this chaotic moment that threatened to dim hope with a shadowy gloom, the choir didn’t stop singing; chilly as it was and even when the thought that all could be lost lingered, the choir burnt the midnight oil and stood as firm as a lighthouse helping Kenya navigate back to the right path.“Twapenda amani, twapenda undungu ulio hapa Kenya. Ni muhimu sisi wananchi tuilinde umoja wetu” the patriotic lyrics nonchalantly breathed life back to the dying hope as the police, who were also heroes this day, brought back order.
On the second attempt, the fat lady was finally able to sing; IEBC chairperson Wafula Chebukati came out flanked by officers, and the audience applauded. In a short speech, Chebukati declared UDA Presidential candidate William Ruto as President-elect.
This pronouncement has been disputed by Raila Odinga and the Azimio coalition, claiming malpractice in the tallying process. Four of the IEBC commissioners have also distanced themselves from the final tally citing opaqueness in the process.
Kenyans continue to hold their breath on the general outcome of this election and a day after the declaration has proved that many are cognizant of the value of peace with the understanding that a high price was once paid to achieve it; many are slowly returning to their normal daily activities and business are reopening in most parts of the country.
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