Activist died with a heavy heart

• King’ara was hard to find, but little did we know we might never talk to him

I arrived at the Oscar Foundation offices at China Centre, Ngong Road, with photographer William Oeri at 10.30am on Thursday.

Two women, one with a baby, and an old man were waiting to be attended to.

We wanted to speak to Mr Oscar Kamau King’ara, the director of Oscar Foundation, but he was out.

The receptionist consulted someone in the inner sanctums of the office and two minutes later, told us that the foundation’s programme officer would speak to us.

We were ushered into the first office which had four desks with computers but only two people - a man and a woman -were working at that time.

In the next office, which looked like the director’s office, we found a man who identified himself as Oulu GPO. He welcomed us jovially and stopped working on his laptop.

On inquiring about his boss, he said he was in the field. “In fact, you are lucky as I just got here. We have been to various places since six in the morning, including Kayole, Huruma and Eastleigh with Kamau,” said a composed Oulu.

Missing or dead

“Were there any problems with the police?” we asked.

“In Kayole there were some confrontations with police at about 7.30am, but so far no arrests have been made. However, it looks like security has been beefed up,” he answered.

Oulu pulled out files of pictures of people either reported missing or dead after an encounter with the police.

He said his office had over 600 files of missing people, most of them allegedly killed by police.

“Many families out there are suffering because they don’t know what happened to their loved ones, and that’s why we are with them right now,” said Oulu.

Although Oscar Foundation had organised that day’s activities, Oulu said, they had not told matatu operators to strike. “I’m told the family members did that,” said Oulu.

So where was Kamau King’ara at this particular moment?

“He should be on his way to Kangemi from Eastlands,” Oulu replied. “Actually, I dashed to the office to email the CNN guys who wanted a report on what is happening. King’ara should be addressing a crowd in Kangemi within the hour.”

We went outside the building, where a branded truck was parked.

“We dare not use this truck now, not with the large number of riot police deployed at City Mortuary roundabout,” he said.
The truck is branded with different pictures of “the violent attacks on innocent Kenyans.”

It also has large posters of President Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga and former Internal Security minister John Michuki and is emblazoned with the words “Why the silence now?”

After exchanging contact numbers, we took off at 11.30am towards Kangemi shopping centre to catch up with King’ara. We phoned Oulu as we approached Kangemi and he promised to call us back after talking to King’ara.

Kangemi was calm. There were no matatus on the road.

At about 12.20pm, Kinga’ra called to tell us that he had linked up with Oulu.

“We are coming to Kangemi, tell us where to find you and we will be there in 15 minutes,” said King’ara. After giving our location, we waited.

When they had not shown up by 1pm, we called them.

“Sorry, we’ve had to rush to Kameme for an interview. We will meet you later.” After that it was difficult to reach the two on the phone. At about 6.30pm, they were shot dead on Mamlaka Road.