Kenya's 46th Jamhuri Day Celebrations

A freak tumble by First Lady Lucy Kibaki was one of the few unfortunate incidents during Saturday’s Jamhuri Day celebrations at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, an event that also exposed the deep divisions within the ODM party.

The First Lady missed her step going down the stairs as the President’s party left the dais at the end of the celebrations as President Mwai Kibaki looked on.

Her aides rushed to help her and back on her feet again, a jovial Mrs Kibaki dusted herself off and proceeded to the waiting car with the President in tow.

The 46th Jamhuri Day celebration on Saturday was one of the best-attended as thousands of Kenyans braved the December sun to listen to their leaders.

A carnival atmosphere engulfed the stadium way before Mr Kibaki, the chief guest, arrived. Maroon Commandos, the army band, ensured the crowd that kept swelling by the minute stayed on the edge of their seats. Security men in the hundreds hovered inside and outside the stadium, some on horseback.

President Kibaki arrived shortly before 11 a.m. and performed the traditional inspection of the guard of honour mounted by the armed forces.

The unforgiving heat, however, claimed its first casualty when a member of the navy, who was part of the Armed Forces parade, fainted in the middle of a march past.

He was caught by his colleagues in the nick of time before he collapsed. He was led away from the parade to receive medical attention.

Captured the attention

Entertainment was provided by the children from SOS Children’s Villages who captured the attention of the dignitaries and the crowd with their song Sote Tupendane.

Others who entertained the crowd were local comedy group Papa Shirandula and Bukembe dancers from Bungoma who performed a traditional Bukusu number.

The heat was also rising on the political front as the divisions within ODM once again came to the fore during the celebrations. Prime Minister Raila Odinga arrived shortly after his rival, William Ruto.

The Agriculture minister had arrived earlier with his political friend and ODM pentagon member, Najib Balala, in tow. They headed straight to their seats in the back row on the main dais.

When the PM arrived, he went straight to his seat in the front row without exchanging any pleasantries with Mr Ruto or Mr Balala.

Unlike periods following the 2007 General Election when ODM members stood as a mark of respect for the PM, there was no sign of it Saturday.


http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/821586/-/vo2dce/-/index.html

ODM wameshaanza kumeguka?

Ab-Titchaz said:

First Lady Lucy Kibaki is assisted onto her feet by her aide after she slipped and fell on a stair case at the Nyayo stadium during the 46th Jamhuri day celebrations.​

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Inaonekana alikuwa ameonja kidogo angalia hayo Macho.

Pole mama Kibaki

Hongera Wakenya on Jamhuri Day.

Ahsante balozi mwalimu Ab-Titchaz kwa kuileta humu.