Festivities continued late into the night

President Uhuru Kenyatta with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ethiopian Prime Minister,Hailemariam Desalegn at State House, Nairobi on Tuesday. [Photo/Standard]

Major celebrations followed the Tuesday inauguration of President Uhuru Kenyatta in several places around the country with his supporters sparing no expense to mark the day.

In the most random feast, ordinary Kenyans were treated to a roadside party in Nairobi’s Nyamakima area where tents were erected, sheep were slaughtered and the meat served to anyone who cared to eat.

Traders organized under the Nyamakima Business Community bought an estimated 30 sheep for the unprecedented bash that started in the mid-morning and extended for hours as they followed the events at the Moi International Sport Complex Kasarani on television.

But it was at an affluent location across the Central Business District was a much grander party.

Mr Kenyatta splashed at least two million for the after-party on Tuesday night that went on till early Wednesday morning. His deputy William Ruto is reported to have donated Sh700,000 to help foot the costs that ran into “several millions”, according to people involved in planning the festivities.

Wealthy businessmen close to Kenyatta and Ruto had already raised ‘‘millions’’ for the inauguration after-party before the top-up from the two leaders on the day they formally started their second term in office.

Both leaders were however not present at the restaurant as they were hosting foreign delegations to another party at State House.

Personal involvement of the duo could be a pointer to their collective relief following the lengthy and tough path to their second term, punctuated by a nullified election August 8 polls and the subsequent re-run whose validity was also challenged in court.

Thousands of Jubilee Party loyalists and allies thronged Galileo - the uptown restaurant in Nairobi, where drinks and food flowed freely. A bull, tens of goats and hundreds of chicken were prepared for the fete that was open to everybody – unlike in most celebrations where guests are on invite-only list.

Among the revelers were several top government officials including Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko. Jomo Gechaga, Kenyatta’s chief of staff and personal secretary, represented in the President in the night-long celebrations which started earlier Tuesday as the swearing-in ceremony got underway.

Away from Nairobi, other supporters were holding festivities in Nyeri town where food, mostly meat, was served to ordinary citizens on the streets.