NAIROBI Senator Mike Sonko will be honoured today as Kenya marks 50 years of independence. Sonko has been nominated for the Elder of the Order of the Burning Spear by the Cabinet Office along with Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u.
Sonko is well known for his flashy lifestyle, bling and outrageous political stunts that include sleeping on tarmac and circulating photos of himself in bed with a woman MP. Sonko’s award will rankle many who believe there are other more deserving candidates.
For instance, Washington Omondi, the sole surviving member of the five men, who composed Kenya’s national anthem has never been honoured. Omondi has not even been invited to the Kenya@50 celebrations.
Former Presidents Daniel Moi and Mwai Kibaki, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and veteran politician Kenneth Matiba will also be honoured with the Order of the Golden Heart.
Jaramogi Odinga will be honoured posthumously as the father of the opposition politics. Former Butere MP Martin Shikuku, who led the struggle against dictatorship during the Moi regime, will also be honoured posthumously.
Former presidential candidate and Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua will be feted today for shaping the country’s political path. Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai will be honoured posthumously for her fight against environmental degradation especially during the Moi era.
Senate Speaker Ekwee Ethuro, former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende and his predecessor Francis Ole Kaparo will also receive awards.
Former Mandera Central MP Abdikadir Mohammed will be honored for his leadership of the parliamentary committee on the constitution that was promulgated in 2010.
Former Alego MP Peter Oloo Aringo, who helped set up the Parliamentary Service Commission, and Nyandarua Senator Muriuki Karue, the architect of the Constituency Development Fund, will also receive honours.
Last week, MPs passed the Kenya Heroes Bill 2013 to provide criteria for identifying, selecting and honouring national heroes. The said it would end the culture of honouring undeserving persons and neglecting deserving persons. The bill is yet to be signed into law by the President.
Source-the-star.co.ke
