Cowards of Nairobi’ by Kenny Rogers: Apparently, CORD principals Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula are the cowards of Nairobi. When they rallied their supporters in their last anti-IEBC protests, the leaders hid in their big SUVs as their supporters engaged anti riot officers in running battles.
Cowards of Nairobi’ by Kenny Rogers
A video showing the moment the principals disappeared into their vehicles has been made into a song dubbed ‘Cowards of Nairobi.’ It is basically a refix of Kenny Rogers’ 1979 hit ‘Coward of the county.’
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The phrase “Cowards of Nairobi” refers to a satirical video that humorously critiques the leaders of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) in Kenya—Raila Odinga, Kalonzo Musyoka, and Moses Wetangula.
The video, a parody of Kenny Rogers’ 1979 song “Coward of the County,” depicts the trio as fleeing into their SUVs during anti-Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) protests, leaving their supporters to face police repression alone .
This portrayal resonated with many Kenyans who felt that the CORD leadership often encouraged public demonstrations but failed to stand with their supporters during confrontations with authorities. A
ctivist Boniface Mwangi criticized CORD for “betraying” Kenyans by abandoning them during protests, highlighting instances where the leadership was absent when their calls for mass action led to arrests and police brutality.
The “Cowards of Nairobi” video became a viral symbol of public disillusionment with political leaders who, according to critics, incited protests without facing the consequences themselves.
