The Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government and Chairperson of the National Celebrations Steering Committee, Karanja Kibicho, has completed an inspection tour of the Mama Ngina Drive Waterfront in Mombasa County, the venue for this year’s Mashujaa Day Celebrations.
“The other members of the committee and I have come again to view the progress of the preparedness of this venue that will host Mashujaa Day this year. I can report that we are satisfied with the progress that has been made since we were here two weeks ago,” said Dr. Kibicho.
Mombasa County was given the onus to host the National Celebration after a presidential directive issued by His Excellency Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta in 2015.
It directed that two out of Kenya’s three National Days be hosted on a rotational basis by counties outside Nairobi. The tradition began in 2016.
President Kenyatta said the decision was aimed at boosting national cohesion and integration. The three National Days are Madaraka Day celebrated on June 1, Mashujaa Day celebrated on October 20 and Jamhuri Day celebrated on December 12.
Narok County has already played host to this year’s Madaraka Day fete while the Mashujaa Day celebrations were held in Kakamega County in 2018.
“This is a National Day that keeps moving from one County to another in order for us to leave capacity in the Counties where we go. We have done many others and this is the time for Mombasa County,” said Kibicho.
“But, because this County is part of the bigger Coast Region, we’ll also want when we host the Mashujaa Day here, to give it a Coastal flavor. When we go to the practices and invitation of performers and Mashujaas, you’ll witness that this will truly be Coast affair. This is because we want to leave the people of Coast empowered and feeling that this is truly their day,” he added.
The PS added that the affair will not be locked out to anyone. “We are expecting over 40, 000 people in this venue on the 20th of October, 2019.”
As is tradition, the President will lead Kenyans in celebrating the day where notable people will be recognized and feted for different achievements.
Previously referred to as Kenyatta Day, the name was changed to Mashujaa Day after the promulgation of the Kenya Constitution in 2010.
This year will be the first time the National Salute shall be received from the Kenya Navy.
Traditionally, salutes have been received from either the Air Force or the Kenya Army.
The PS was accompanied by his counterparts in the Ministry of Devolution- State Department for Special Programmes, Josephta Mukobe, the Ministry of Tourism – State Department of Tourism, Joe Okudo, the Ministry of Transport
– State Department of Public Works Paul Maringa and the Inspector General (IG) of Police, Hillary Mutymbai.