Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko bows to pressure, replaces lion sculpture along University Way

Governor Mike Sonko replaces lion statue along University Way after public outrage [Photos]

Charles Ouma

March 9, 2019 9:43 AM

This is what is standing in its place

The lion statue that was erected on University Way in Nairobi. It has since been removed

Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has bowed to pressure and removed the lion statue that was erected along University Way in Nairobi, replacing it with a new one.

Standing in its place is a new sculpture that was erected on Friday night to replace the previous one that sparked a heated debate on social media.

The new sculpture along University Way that has replaced the previous one Pulse Live Kenya

The previous lion statue erected by the Nairobi County Government saw Nairobians take to social media in protest with many accusing the county government of wasting public funds and subjecting Kenyans to ridicule.

Many opined that they couldn’t tell what animal the statue represented, stating that it had been poorly sculpted and opining that it should be removed.

Kibet Yegon tweeted, "Lion that looks like he's contemplating hard economic times aside. How about just Nairobi City or Nairobi County and not Nairobi City County...Sonko is so extra!"

Kryptonite wrote “That lion looks quite high on something yet to be legalized! Wonder how it will look after the April rains!”

The pressure seems to have paid off and on Friday night, the statue was finally removed and replaced by a new one that many Kenyans on social media have confirmed that is better than what was there before.