President Uhuru Kenyatta's final Madaraka Day celebrations was decorated by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) who displayed unmatched artillery and mounted an airshow as he led the nations in celebrating 59 years of self rule.
During the event held at Uhuru Gardens in Lang'ata, Sierra Leone's President, Julius Maada, was the chief guest and was accompanied by his wife.
This was the first in-person Madaraka Day since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020.
Also present at the event was First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and Kenya's founding First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta.
Other leaders who were present include Deputy President William Ruto, Mama Racheal Ruto, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua, Chief Justice Martha Koome, among other dignitaries.
Being Uhuru's final national celebrations, the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) paid tribute to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces in fashion even as they displayed some of their heavy combat equipment that have never been seen in the public before.
Speaking to Citizen TV on Tuesday, May 31, Interior Principal Secretary, Karanja Kibicho, stated the whole event was estimated to cost between Ksh60 million and Ksh70 million. He explained that the military would put a show as a way of paying tribute to the departing President as a sign if gratitude and respect.
Uhuru also took time to detail the achievements of his administration citing the importance of the Uhuru Gardens in Kenya's struggle for independence. The gardens have been rehabilitated by Uhuru in recent years with a museum launched by the Head of State yesterday.
During the event attended by over 30,000 Kenyans, the bromance between the handshake brothers played out as the President was received by Raila Odinga before making his entrance to the venue.
Despite the politics that took center stage during Uhuru's speech, there were light moments at the event. Ruto was pictured helping Mama Rachel Ruto make her ribbon after struggling with it for a while.
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