Powerful Leader from the West Could Grace Ruto’s First Jamhuri Day Celebration

Some 30,000 people are set to be hosted at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi for Kenya’s 60th Jamhuri Day celebrations on December 12, 2023. 

At least three foreign heads of state were expected to grace Kenya’s Jamhuri Day celebrations on Tuesday, the Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo said on Sunday.

This year’s fete will be the 60th Jamhuri Day fete as Kenya marks the date when the country became an independent country on December 12, 1963.

Omollo said 30,000 people will be hosted at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi for the ceremony, adding that plans for parallel celebrations were underway in counties nationwide.

Advert

“Of course, there is room for excess in terms of spill-over and adequate security arrangements have been made to take care of that,” Omollo told a media briefing.

Although Dr. Omollo was hedging on who would be the Chief Guest during President Ruto’s first Jamhuri Day celebration there were undertones that it could be an important person from the West. President Ruto’s camaraderie with western powers has been a subject of concern among African leaders.

In the last National celebration held in Nairobi in October, Ruto had the singular embarrassment of inviting an African leader who travelled to Nairobi but gave a wide berth to appearing on the dais for the celebrations.