Kibicho: Let’s meet virtually to mark 57th Madaraka Day
Alvin Mwangi @PeopleDailyKe
Kenyans will celebrate this year’s Madaraka Day virtually in line with the government ban on social gatherings to stop the spread of Covid-19.
In a circular to Regional Commissioners, Interior PS Karanja Kibicho says celebrations will be streamed live via media houses and social media platforms and culminate with a speech by President Uhuru Kenyatta from State House, Nairobi.
“In the current circumstances, therefore, inviting large numbers of people for this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations shall not be possible. This is, therefore, to ask you to advise members of public to remain at home,” he said.
This year’s event was scheduled for Gusii Stadium, Kisii County, in line with the principle of devolving the celebrations to counties.
At the same time, Kibicho said just like other Madaraka Day fetes, the day will have all the elements usual programmes such as entertainment, match-pasts by the military and other disciplined forces and speeches.
On this day, the country attained internal self-rule on June 1, 1963, documentaries that highlight the country’s cultural and development milestones are run in the media.
This will be the first time that such a historic day that Kenyans will not physically troop to stadia and other venues across the country for the celebrations whose highlight is the presidential speech and military displays.
On May 1, Labour Day celebrations, Kenyans were forced to mark at home and addressed by President Kenyatta from State House, Nairobi, following the roll-out of measures and protocols, including social distancing and dusk-to-dawn curfew to arrest the spread of Covid-19.
Preparations were underway in Gusii Stadium to ensure the facility was ready to host the day after Sh60 million was injected to facilitate the project by the national government in conjunction with the county government.
During last year’s celebration in Narok, the president made a decision to rotate the hosting of national celebration in order to strengthen our nationhood with so far Nakuru, Nyeri, Machakos, Meru and Kakamega having hosted the occasion.
According to the president, the economy was boosted by 6.3 per cent one of the highest growth rates in the world, and over 800,000 new jobs were created mostly in the informal sector.
The coronavirus pandemic has hit hard different sectors in the country, threatening Kenya’s economy.
