President Uhuru Kenyatta presided over the Madaraka Day celebrations, the last one in his tenure, capping the day with one of the longest speeches of his presidency and some not-so-subtle digs at his estranged deputy William Ruto.
The hostility between two leaders has mesmerized Kenyans, sparking a debate on social media, with people taking sides depending on their political leanings.
The 59th Madaraka Day celebrations held at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi featured a spectacular military parade, where the Kenya Defence Forces displayed an array of military hardware.
Kenya’s military displayed its might with a spectacular show of fighter jets, choppers, and tanks.
A section of Kenyans was ostensibly amused by the military hardware and finesse in the air, but they remained just that- a show to a majority.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen laughed off the show display, terming it a ‘shame,’ as the forces have failed to end internal fights and cattle rustling in the infamous Kerio Valley.
“Uhuru Kenyatta is praising security agencies and parading expensive weapons and heavy artillery while the people are being slaughtered in Kerio Valley? What a SHAME!” Murkomen said on Twitter.
Abuga Makori, another Twitter user, lauded the KDF show and implied that form-four leavers to undergo military training like in some developed countries.
“I get very excited when watching KDF patriots. They demonstrate love, diligence, and discipline. I think Raila Odinga should make it mandatory for form 4 leavers to get little military training. KDF should take charge of development projects.”
“Dear Mr. President, today, as you have paraded very heavy artillery by our security forces during #MadarakaDay, as their Commander-in-chief deploy them to help our mothers and children DYING in Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet regions every day and restore PEACE,” Billy Kibichii wrote.
President Kenyatta told off those criticizing his moves to transfer some civilian services to the military and praised the military for “excelling where others had failed.”
For the first time in a public event, the President gave his deputy a wide berth, indicating that the duo’s relationship worsened by the day. President Uhuru Kenyatta skipped his Deputy William Ruto as he recognized dignitaries who were present.
After recognizing Julius Bio, the President of Sierra Leone, Kenyatta jumped to recognize the Speakers of both Houses and then the Chief Justice.
Ruto has appealed to the crowds at past national events and embarrassed the President. It’s not far-fetched to think the same could have happened yesterday had Ruto taken to the podium.
Soon after reading the address, a section of the crowd, supposedly DP Ruto’s supporters, was seen walking out of the venue.
“In August this year, if it is the wish of Kenyans, Kenya is going to have the 1st woman Deputy President,” Kenyatta said.
The Deputy President took to his Facebook page to write his message for the day, in which he gave the snub a wide berth too.
“Today, we celebrate 59 years of Madaraka, but we must not forget that we are responsible for the next years ahead. We are the makers of this nation. Let us choose a path of progress, unity, and prosperity. Joined President Uhuru Kenyatta and Kenyans at Uhuru Gardens to commemorate this wonderful day,” Ruto wrote.
Soon after, “Bure kabisa” and “pettiness” started trending in Kenya’s Twitter space, seemingly reacting to Kenyatta’s snub of his deputy.
“In fact, President Uhuru Kenyatta is the best example of a tyrannical leader who deals with petty issues even in a public event like Madaraka Day. How can he fail to recognize his deputy? Bure kabisa.
Praying that Kenya will never have such a leader again,” Chris Muroki, a tweep, wrote on his timeline.
“DP Ruto just sidelined like that, President Uhuru Kenyatta is very petty, and his pettiness will hand William Ruto Presidency asubuhi sana.
Let the war begin. Dynasties must fall,” Atieno Asego, tweeted.
The President read out what his administration had done, saying he had done better than all other previous governments combined.
“We have built more roads in nine years than all previous administrations combined, including the British, built in 123 years. Wapende wasipende, hiyo ndio ukweli wa mambo,” Kenyatta said.
He also defended the borrowing spree that his government has embraced, saying debts are a catalyst for rapid development when in the hands of a visionary administration.
“The only time debt is a burden to the nation is if a nation is led by looters. The next administration should not shy away from using other people’s money,” he added.
Economist David Ndii, one of Ruto’s strategists, responded to Kenyatta on Twitter.
“Borrowing is too much when it leads to:
Forex rationing, 8-fold increase in foreign debt service/export ratio (2012: 4.7% – 2019: 38%), 47% shilling depreciation (Sh85 to US$ in 2012 to Sh125), default risk due to collapse of country’s Eurobonds,” Ndii wrote.
“The only time debt is a burden to the nation is if a nation is led by looters. The next administration should not shy away from using other people’s money,” President Uhuru Kenyatta.
He called upon the incoming government to step up the fight against corruption, pointing out that he had made steps in the war.
“This park (Uhuru Gardens) had become a den of thieves. Part of it was in the hands of unscrupulous individuals. We have reclaimed it,” he said.
Kenyatta took pride in his “massive expansion of the digital space,” which he said has seen many Kenyans successfully monetize various digital communication avenues.
Once again, Kenyatta expressed his preference for Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance, as the general election draws nearer.
“In August this year, if it is the wish of Kenyans, Kenya is going to have the 1st woman Deputy President,” Kenyatta said.
Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua is Raila Odinga’s running mate, the presidential flag bearer of Azimio la Umoja. Raila is closely competing with Ruto, who has chosen Mathira Members of Parliament Rigathi Gachagua as his running mate.
Earlier in the day, the President met with his Cabinet, and he lauded them for having been supportive of him.
“I want to take this opportunity to thank each one of you. We have worked well together. It has been a pleasure and honor to have you with us. And I am confident that we have a firm foundation for those who will come after us to continue to build a bigger, brighter, and prosperous Kenya from where we have left off,” Uhuru said.
Madaraka day commemorates the day Kenyans received the power to run their government.
The general election is scheduled for August 9th this year.