MACHAKOS, Kenya, June 1 – Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has welcomed the announcement by President Uhuru Kenyatta that the Mashujaa Day celebrations will take place in the county.
Mutua invited all Kenyans to Machakos and said the county government is ready to receive them for the occasion.
“I have spoken to our President Uhuru Kenyatta today and he has told me that it has been decided that the Mashujaa Day set for the October 20 will be celebrated in Machakos. We are all very happy about that here in Machakos and we are ready for it,” he said.
He was speaking after the President made the announcement during the Madaraka Day celebrations in Nakuru.
“On behalf of our people in Machakos, I would like to thank our President for the vote of confidence and we are telling all Kenyans to feel welcomed in Machakos and we are prepared for the occasion,” he said.
President Kenyatta said the decision to hold two of the three national holidays outside Narobi was taken in cognisance of the resolution, made by the creation of devolved governments, that Nairobi would no longer be the sole centre of power.
Deputy President William Ruto echoed President Kenyatta’s sentiments describing the decision to hold the national Madaraka Day celebrations outside Nairobi as a major achievement.
Speaking at the Afraha Stadium where a large number of people had gathered for the fete, the Deputy President sad the decision showed the national government’s support of devolution.
In December last year, President Kenyatta announced that two of the three national holidays will be hosted by counties other than Nairobi, on a rotational basis.
The three national holidays are Madaraka Day, Mashujaa Day in October and Jamhuri Day in December.
June 1 commemorates the day Kenya attained internal self-rule preceding full independence from the United Kingdom on December 12, 1963.
