Of low-key Mashujaa Day during a highly significant year for Mau Mau

A low people turnout was experienced at Uhuru Gardens during the 59th Mashujaa day on October 20, 2022. [Silas Otieno, Standard]

During Mashujaa Day last week, Kenyans commemorated 70 years since the official outbreak of the Mau Mau War on October 20, 1952. The event was different from past ones as it was uninspiring and poorly attended. It was also the first time that the national political leadership was in the hands of those born after 1963, the year Kenya attained independence.

President William Ruto was born in 1966, the year of political upheaval when Vice President Oginga Odinga resigned from Kanu to create KPU which led to the constitutional turn-coat amendment and the 'little general election'. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua was born in 1965 as Kenya entered its republican status. Not having any colonial experience, they were born-frees and grew to become President Daniel arap Moi's effective anti-change policy implementers.