Parallel Madaraka Day fete is ill-advised

It has been the tradition to hold important national day celebrations at Uhuru Park or Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi. This year’s Madaraka Day celebrations to be observed on Wednesday, will for the first time be held at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru from where President Uhuru Kenyatta will address the nation.

This would not have drawn a lot of attention had it not been for CORD, the Opposition coalition, signaling it would hold a parallel rally at the Uhuru Park the same day. When not in use, the grounds is rented out on a first-come-first-served basis. A group, Prayers Without Boundaries Ministries, claims that it was first to book the venue. Despite that, CORD has vowed to hold its rally there setting the stage for confrontation.

In the last one month, the Opposition has staged demonstrations across the country over its demands that the IEBC be reconstituted. While that might have drawn genuine sympathy from the public, holding a parallel rally on a national day risks portraying the Opposition as incapable of separating issues; a rebel without a cause.

Though Mr Kenyatta is free to outline the achievements of his ruling Jubilee coalition, he will be addressing the nation as Head of State; the symbol of unity.

What is troubling is the symbolism of an Opposition party holding a parallel rally on a national day. This is akin to the desecration of our pride as a nation; the desecration of our national values; the desecration of our heritage as a nation; the desecration of our hard-fought freedom and independence. As much as it might feel aggrieved on other matters of national importance, CORD's plan is ill-advised and serves to ratchet up the political temperatures for no reason.

Madaraka Day, like all national days, transcends cultural, tribal, socio-economical and political leaning. All over the world, nations observe these days with great pride. For example, in the United States (which we hold in high regard) Independence Day is sacred. And the symbolism of July 4 is drilled into everyone, including immigrants. CORD should rethink its plan.