Few show up for celebrations in Kisumu city

Kisumu, Kenya: Kisumu residents gave the Madaraka Day celebrations a wide berth as the usual pomp and colour characterising such fetes were conspicuously missing.

Except for the Governor Jack Ranguma, all other elected leaders, including senators, MPs and all the Members of the County Assembly skipped the event.

Saturday’s grand welcoming of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga at Uhuru Park appeared to “frustrate” the ceremony as most of the elected leaders who spoke to The Standard revealed they were still in Nairobi.

It was business as usual as less than 500 people gathered at Kisumu’s Jomo Kenyatta Sports Ground for the celebrations.

Most of those present at the event were officers from the national Government and some county staff.

“I decided to continue with my business because of the high cost of living. Going there would not add anything to my table,” said Mary Akello, a shopkeeper.