Daddy Owen hits back at DIG Masengeli’s Saba Saba remarks

Celebrated gospel artist Daddy Owen has taken a sharp jab at Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Gilbert Masengeli, accusing him of misleading Kenyans about the situation in Nairobi during this year’s Saba Saba commemorations.

Posting on X on Monday, July 7, 2025, just minutes after Masengeli told journalists that Nairobi’s Central Business District (CBD) remained “open to all,” Daddy Owen responded with a pointed musical reference.

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“DJ weka moja ya Burning Spear ile ya… Hey Hey Hey Hey………. Na please DJ usifanye kwichi kwichi,” he posted.

He was referring to Not Stupid, a powerful reggae anthem by Burning Spear released in 1995, whose lyrics denounce manipulation and oppression.

“So, they want us to think stupid, so, they want us to feel stupid, that’s how they want us to be,” the song repeats.

Public disputes official narrative

Daddy Owen’s post appeared to question Masengeli’s statement, suggesting the police boss was taking Kenyans for fools. Despite Masengeli insisting that “everybody is getting into the CBD,” reporters and residents on the ground described a different reality, one of tension, roadblocks, and intimidation.

A tense exchange unfolded Monday morning near University Way, where Masengeli was addressing journalists.

“Everybody is getting into the CBD, everybody is going for duty as normal, no worries,” he claimed.

But journalists immediately challenged him, citing visible roadblocks and people being turned away.

“That is not true. We have seen people being turned away and several roadblocks,” one reporter countered.

K24 Digital later confirmed through a spot check that heavy police deployment was in place along major roads including Wayaki Way, Thika Superhighway, Valley Road, and Ngong Road. Barricades were up, vehicles were being searched, and even pedestrians were being questioned.

For many Kenyans observing Saba Saba, a day marking the 1990 pro-democracy protests, the atmosphere was anything but peaceful. Civil society groups have raised alarms over what they describe as the militarisation of public space and suppression of free assembly.