Opposition leader Raila Odinga, during the 55th celebration of Madaraka Day, narrated the tale of the genesis of the word "Harambee".
Speaking during the Madaraka Day celebrations held at the Kinoru Stadium, Meru county, the leader recounted the tale of Mzee Jomo Kenyatta and the Kapenguria six incarceration at Lodwar.
"Many people died and many others were jailed before we got our independence. Mzee himself was locked up in Lokitang undergoing hard labour and from there he was taken to Lodwar.
"From there, people started demanding for Mzee to be released. The word harambee was birthed at that time as people used to say 'let us pull together a tag of war (harambee) and get Mzee out of prison," he narrated.
[caption caption="Raila Odinga gives address during the 55th Madaraka Day celebrations courtesy of KTN News "]
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The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader went on to sing a song from the era as eager listeners followed the narration.
"One man by the name Omollo Ong'iro used to begin his address during public gatherings by calling out 'Harambee! Tutoe Kenyatta (Let's get Kenyatta out)' and from there it was even picked by musicians.
"As one song used to go, 'Vuruta kamba twende Lodwar, vuruta kamba twende Lodwar (pull the tag of war to Lodwar)'," the former Prime Minister sang.
Mr Odinga went on to describe the clarion call the First President of the Republic of Kenya gave as soon as he was released from detention.
"I remember the first Madaraka Day that was celebrated in Nairobi and Mzee Kenyatta stood with a flywhisk in hand and announced to Kenyans that the time had come for us to gain self-rule, after 60 years under the oppressive rule of our colonizers.
"That day ended the seven-year-long, brutal State of Emergency where Kikuyus, Merus and Embus were labelled as the number one enemies of the State.
"Self-rule did not come easily, it was a struggle and Mzee announced that we would tackle three enemies - disease, poverty and ignorance," Raila narrated.
He concluded his statement by reiterating that it is the fight against the three enemies that led to the handshake and collaborative "Building Bridges" initiative with President Uhuru Kenyatta.
[caption caption="File image of the Kapenguria Six freedom fighters"]
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