Ethiopia's prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn (L), Burundia's president
Pierre Nkurunzinza (2nd L), his wife Denise and Tanzania's President
Jakaya Kikwete (R) stand in Kasarani stadium during Kenya's celebrations
marking 50 years of independence from British colonial rule. AFP PHOTO /
TONY KARUMBA
By NEVILLE OTUKI
In Summary
- 20 Heads of State on Thursday joined Kenya in marking 50 years of independence at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani
- This year’s Jamhuri Day was unique since it marked Kenya’s Jubilee anniversary as a sovereign republic, attracting one of the largest gatherings of African presidents in the country’s history
- With the exception of Rwanda, all presidents from the East African Community were in attendance including Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Tanzania’a Jakaya Kikwete and Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza
20 Heads of State on Thursday joined Kenya in
marking 50 years of independence at the Moi International Sports Centre
Kasarani where President Uhuru Kenyatta led thousands of Kenyans at the
fete.
This year’s Jamhuri Day was unique since it marked
Kenya’s Jubilee anniversary as a sovereign republic, attracting one of
the largest gatherings of African presidents in the country’s history.
With the exception of Rwanda, all presidents from
the East African Community were in attendance including Yoweri Museveni
of Uganda, Tanzania’a Jakaya Kikwete and Burundi’s Pierre Nkurunziza.
Rwanda, Namibia and Senegal were represented by Prime Ministers Pierre Habumuremyi, Hage Geingob and Aminata Toure respectively.
Ethiopia was represented by Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn.
Other presidents in attendance were Nigeria’s
Goodluck Jonathan, Joyce Banda (Malawi), Isaias Afewerki (Eritrea),
Ikililou Dhoinine (Comoros), Ian Khama (Botswana) and Mohamed Abdelaziz
(Sahrawi Arab Republic).
Mahinda Rajapaksa of Sri Lanka, Ali Bongo of
Gabon, Joseph Kabila (DR Congo) Salva Kiir (South Sudan) and Djibouti’s
President Ismaïl Omar Guelleh also graced the historic occasion.
On Wednesday, President Kenyatta in the company of
his deputy William Ruto hoisted the flag at midnight to celebrate 50
years of the country’s self-rule and planted a commemorative tree at
Nairobi’s Uhuru Gardens.
At the same time, another flag was hoisted at the
highest peak of Mount Kenya in a symbolic gesture reminiscent of 1963
when the Union Jack was lowered and Kenyan flag raised to mark the
country’s independence.
Former first lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta, former
president Mwai Kibaki, former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and former
Prime Minister Raila Odinga were among local dignitaries who took part
in the Kenya@50 celebrations.
During the event, President Uhuru Kenyatta called
for Kenyans to embrace unity and shun negative ethnicity towards a
cohesive society.
He also noted that the government has put in place
safeguard measures to avoid traps in extraction sector suffered by
several African nations where they have reaped little from returns.
This follows a recent string of discoveries of oil deposits and precious metals in the several parts of the country.
“Kenya should lift itself to the next level of development through proper exploitation of minerals,” he said.
We have developed laws to help avoid pitfalls suffered by other countries,” he added.
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