Kericho residents on Monday marked Saba Saba Day with the reinstallation of a symbolic United Democratic Alliance (UDA) wheelbarrow monument, which had been brought down during anti-government protests on June 25.
The monument, located at the heart of Kericho town, has stood as a symbol of support for President William Ruto since the 2022 general election campaigns. However, it was toppled by a group of protesting youth during demonstrations commemorating one year since the anti-Finance Bill protests began.
In a peaceful procession that began with prayers at Moi Gardens, residents — led by local leaders and elders from the Myoot Council — marched to the monument’s site to reinstall the wheelbarrow. Organisers described the act as a gesture of peace and reconciliation, emphasising the community’s desire to move forward in unity.
“We are reinstalling the wheelbarrow as a symbol of unity and respect,” said one organiser, noting that those responsible for the previous vandalism were not representative of the wider community. The group blamed the destruction on “hired hooligans” seeking to disrupt peace in the region.
Elders present at the ceremony commended the youth for heeding calls from religious and traditional leaders to maintain calm. “We desire peace and stability in our region. Let us use dialogue, not destruction,” said one elder, underscoring the importance of respectful political engagement.
This is the second time the wheelbarrow monument has been restored. The first incident occurred in June 2024, during similar protests against the contentious Finance Bill, which many young people have labelled punitive. It was re-erected a month later with support from local leaders.
The Myoot Council urged the youth to focus their energy on constructive dialogue and community development instead of protests and vandalism.
The wheelbarrow remains a potent political symbol in UDA strongholds, representing President Ruto’s bottom-up economic model. Its repeated destruction and reinstallation in Kericho illustrate the political tensions at play but also show the community’s efforts to preserve peace amid national debates.
