This archive report was first published on 26 September 2019.
December 12, 2017, marked 54 years since Kenya gained independence from Britain, but the Jamhuri Day celebrations at the Moi Sports Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi were a stark reminder of the country's deep-seated divisions.
Traditionally, Jamhuri Day is a national event celebrated with great fanfare, but this year's festivities were marred by an embarrassingly low turnout. The stadium, which was expected to be packed with Kenyans, was instead filled with only a handful of special guests.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto led the celebrations, but the empty stadium served as a scathing indictment of the Jubilee government's legitimacy. The low turnout was a stark contrast to previous Jamhuri Day celebrations, which were always attended by thousands of Kenyans.
The government's inability to mobilize Kenyans to celebrate a national holiday is a worrying sign of the country's deep-seated divisions. The Jubilee government's claim to have the numbers and rule supreme is being put to the test, as the low turnout at Kasarani Stadium suggests that many Kenyans are disillusioned with the government's leadership.
It is high time for the government to come to terms with the reality on the ground. The low turnout at Kasarani Stadium is a wake-up call for the Jubilee government to address the country's deep-seated divisions and work towards building a more inclusive government.
