59th Madaraka Day celebrations underway at Uhuru Gardens
The 59th Madaraka Day celebrations are currently underway at the historic Uhuru Gardens grounds in Nairobi.
President Uhuru Kenyatta will lead other top dignitaries in the celebrations, on the day Kenyans reflect on the country’s progress after gaining internal self-rule from the colonial masters.
Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Wonie Bio is the chief guest in this year's Madaraka Day celebrations.
Others expected at the event are Deputy President William Ruto, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Cabinet Secretaries, MPs and various other senior government officials.
Kenyans started trickling in at the ‘people’s garden’ as early as 4:00 am.
Uhuru's Last Madaraka and National Celebrations
Today's event is unique because it's President Kenyatta's last national celebration as he prepares to hand over the baton to the next Head of State in August.
The President is expected to use the platform to detail the Jubilee government's achievements in the last nine years.
The celebrations came back to Nairobi seven years after they were taken to the counties together with Mashujaa Day following the President’s directive in 2015.
Follow the live proceedings here: