1/ Tomorrow we march again in the streets to protest in the Mother of all protests to reject the finance bill. As we stand up for our rights, let’s draw inspiration from our rich history of protests and a revolutionary spirit. #TOTALShutDowKE 2/ Let’s start 100 years ago. In 1922 Harry Thuku was arrested for leading countrywide activism against colonialism. Tens of thousands of Kenyans turned up at today’s Central Police Station, led by Muthoni Nyanjiru to ask for his release. #TOTALShutDowKE

Scene One:

2001.
Close to 7:00 PM.

A lift hurtles up to the 19th floor of Lonrho house, Standard Street, Nairobi.

Inside the confined space are three dudes.

One is tall, like, really tall, and skinny.
Lanky is the word.

The one beside him is short and visibly shy. Early signs show that he would be plump later in life. He is not thaaaat short, but standing next to Tall Dude, he looks just about Mwala’s height. Tall Dude and Shy Dude look as hood as hood gets. Effortlessly.

Dude 3 is not hood at all.

Or, at least, does not look it.

On an unidentified day, a week no one seems to place, a month that has disappeared into the woodwork of history, roughly 2000 years ago, a man went down a road towards a city.

Around him were loud crowds, livestock, and men with weapons. He was riding on a mule. Roughly one thousand nine hundred years later. On 12th January 1908, another man was riding toward what would become a major town. He was surrounded by men with weapons and thousands upon thousands of cattle.

He, too, was riding on a mule.

“Soldiers!
Alert!
Whatever happens, kumbuka:
WE HAVE THE MAXIM GUN!
THEY DO NOT!
Engage!
At the count of three,
KILL ‘EM ALL!”

Nairobi was in trouble on March 16th, 1922.

The town was at a standstill. Shops were closed streets were empty and activity had paralyzed. Captain Lumley, the acting assistant Commissioner of Police, was scared stiff.

Over eight thousand angry Africans were charging towards him, thundering... Their feet falling on the ground sounded and felt like an earthquake.