By Hirum Muli,
He may not have received all the honours due to him for representing Kenya in football but football legend, Joe Kadenge, has posthumously been honoured with a road, at least one named after him.
Nairobi Count Assembly earlier this week, on Tuesday, February 23, passed a motion to rename a road in South B Estate in honour of Kadenge.
Following the passing of the motion, Kapiti Crescent Road will be named Joe Kadenge Crescent Road.
“This Assembly resolves that the Nairobi County Government rename Kapiti Crescent Road in Nairobi South Ward to Joe Kadenge Crescent Road in honour of the football icon who was a resident of Nairobi South area and was regarded as the finest footballer to ever grace the country’s football scene as evident in his valiant efforts in guiding Harambee Stars win the inaugural East and Central Africa Challenge Cup,” said Waithera Chege, the South B ward representative.
Waithera tabled the motion in the assembly in 2019.
After the passage of the motion, the Assembly’s Implementation Committee will now write to the Nairobi County Executive communicating the approved motion.
Consequently, City Hall will within three months rename the road to Joe Kadenge Crescent Road or reject the proposal.
Deputy Majority Whip and the South B ward rep said they were driven by demands from locals to honour one of the finest icons to grace Kenya’s footballing scenes.
Many adult Kenyans who enjoy local football can attest to having at one point in their life used the popular slogan “kadenge na mpira” everytime they saw someone skilled at dribbling.
“The country has since independence named and renamed roads to honour of heroes and heroines who have contributed immensely to the development of the republic,” she said.
Kadenge died in July 2019 in Nairobi aged 84 years after a long battle with stroke.
He is regarded as one of the finest footballers Kenya has ever produced alongside Dennis Oliech, McDonald Mariga, Victor Wanyama and Michael Olunga.
The late Kadenge played for Maragoli United and Abaluyha United in the Kenya Premier League in the 1960s.
