This year Kenya Madaraka Day celebrations on June 1 will be marked virtually following the government’s ban on gatherings due to curb the spread of covid-19.
In a circular to regional commissioners, PS Karanja Kibicho from the Interior Ministry said the celebrations will be streamed through all media houses and social media platforms for kenyans to follow the proceedings from their living rooms and phones.
The celebrations will commence from 8am on Monday and will be concluded by a live address by President Uhuru Kenyatta from State House, Nairobi.
“The Madaraka Day Production will be packed with entertainment and documentaries highlighting our culture and development milestones as a great nation,” said Kibicho.
The commissioners in their respective regions are required to ensure that no gatherings are held during the occasion that would have been hosted in Kisii this year.
The PS asked the commissioners to advise the public to stay at home and follow the celebrations on radio and television or through social media platforms.
Kibicho expressed fears on the prevailing Covid-19 situation in Kenya and the world that has completely altered how things are done.
The Kisii County Government has been renovating and doing major installations at the Gusii Stadium ahead of the fete. Governor James Ongwae said major roads and streets in Kisii town were getting ahead of the celebrations.
In 2015, President Kenyatta ordered that two out of Kenya’s three national holidays: Madaraka Day, Mashujaa Day and Jamhuri Day be hosted outside the capital, Nairobi, on a rotational basis by other counties.
Madaraka commemorates the day Kenya attained independent self-governance after decades as a British colonial entity in 1963.
This years edition will be the third National function that President Kenyatta will be hosting at his official residence (State House) since March 13, when Kenya reported hers first COVID-19 positive case.
Other functions include the National Prayer Day against the covid-19 outbreak on March 21 and Labour Day celebrations on May 1 as organisers promise a Madaraka Day packed with entertainment and documentaries that highlight Kenya’s milestones in the past 57 years.
