Ruto, Gachagua at Kenya's 61st Madaraka Day fete

President William Ruto has arrived at the Masinde Muliro stadium Kanduyi in Bungoma to lead the country in marking the 61st Madaraka Day celebration.

In the usual entourage accorded to a Head of State, Ruto made way to the stadium minutes to 10.00am.

As expected, the president the immediately inspected a guard of honour, trailed by Chief of Defence Forces General Charles Kahariri. It is General Kahariri's first national event as the CDF.

Also gracing the occasion is his Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, who arrived in the company of his spouse, Pastor Dorcas Rigathi.

Several Cabinet Secretaries including Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi, Interior CS Kithure Kindiki, Aden Duale (Defence), Kipchumba Murkomen (Roads and Transport) and Moses Kuria (Public Service) are also present.

This year's theme is Agriculture and Food Security.

Kenyans are expectant as they hope the president addresses the issues most important to them such as the high cost of living.

"We are a food producing country. I cannot speak for the President but we expect that he touches on food production," National Assembly speaker Moses Wetangula told KTN News on Saturday, June 1.

Masinde Muliro stadium, hosting a national event for the first time, sits about 15,000 people.

Attendees at the 61st Madaraka Day celebrations at Masinde Muliro stadium in Bungoma County. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]