A Kiambu County resident has filed a petition to the High Court of Kenya, demanding the removal of the controversial ‘Naked Boy’ statue located near the Supreme Court. The petitioner argues that the statue, erected during the colonial era, is culturally insensitive and misrepresents the values of modern Kenyan society.
The petition, dated August 9, calls for the statue—originally installed by Gertrude Hamilton in honor of her husband, Alexander George Hamilton—to be replaced with something more fitting. According to the petitioner, the depiction of a naked boy is demeaning and offensive, failing to reflect the dignity and respect embedded in Kenya’s constitution.
“The naked depiction of a young boy is culturally demeaning, insensitive, and offensive,” the petition states. It invokes Article 10 of the Constitution, which emphasizes national values, including human dignity and social justice. The petitioner also criticizes the statue’s colonial legacy, asserting that it undermines Kenya’s post-colonial identity.
Additional concerns highlighted include the statue’s symbolism of judicial immaturity. The boy holding a slippery fish, according to the petitioner, suggests a lack of seriousness in the justice system. Furthermore, the presence of six turtles in the fountain represents stagnation, an unwanted association for the nation’s legal framework.
Despite the petition, the High Court responded on August 20, defending the statue as a symbol of innocence and openness in the justice system. The Chief Registrar of the Judiciary stated that it is akin to other global judicial symbols, such as the ‘Lady of Justice.’
The statue is officially recognized as a national monument, having been gazetted in 1995, which complicates its removal. The court indicated that any alterations would require public participation. In a follow-up, the petitioner contacted the National Museums of Kenya to further pursue the matter.
Undeterred, he plans to return to the High Court to continue advocating for the statue’s removal, a move that reflects broader discussions about cultural symbols in contemporary Kenya.
By Nairobi