Preparations for Kenya’s Golden Jubilee in top gear

By CYRUS OMBATI and LEAH GONDI-OGONDI

KENYA: The government has lined up a series of activities to mark Kenya’s Golden Jubilee.

The celebrations that will run for a month are expected to kick off on November 15, with the climax being on December 12, 2013.

Kenya@50 organising committee chairman and Interior Principal Secretary Mutea Iringo said on Thursday the anniversary is meant to reflect, forge new ideas and define the country’s future in economic growth, politics and governance, infrastructural development, social and cultural orientation, and national heritage.

“This platform provides an opportunity for the government, private sector, development partners and citizenry to take stock of the journey made in the last 50 years,” said Mr Iringo.

The events are meant to celebrate 50 years of Kenya’s independence and so far, a committee has been set up to oversee the preparations.

According to Iringo, key events will be on December 11 and 12 at Uhuru Gardens and Kasarani Stadium respectively. They will include flag raising at midnight at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi and Mt Kenya, military parade and formations with heads of state and invited guests in attendance.

National symbols

There will also be a garden party at State House where presentations and recognition would be given to those who developed national symbols and the most influential Kenyans.

Iringo said his team has roped in both the national and county governments, private sector, religious organisations, professional organisations, institutions of higher learning and members of the diaspora.

He asked owners of landmark buildings in towns that were put up between the 1900s and 1960s and which are earmarked for illumination to meet the cost of bulbs and neon lighting during the one-month period.

There are plans to plant more than 2 million trees and erect billboards with pictures of the four presidents who have ruled the country.

The PS made the remarks in Nairobi when he met members of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance to urge for their support in the plans.

“We seek to reignite and celebrate patriotism by profiling and promoting unity in diversity and highlighting the uniqueness of Kenya as a nation. This is through online and offline media activations,” he added.

Some Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa) members sought to know what role they would play and how the events will benefit Kenyans.

Iringo said they would recognise and appreciate the country’s titans, pioneers, icons and 50-year-olds drawn from the 47 counties.

He said lack of employment continues to threaten the country’s stability with the surging number of jobless youths demanding more.

He said despite the few jobs being created annually, the number of those unemployed is still high. Iringo said 68,000 new jobs were created in the formal sector in 2012.