This archive report was first published on 19 October 2019.
On October 19, 2019, Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi responded to a Mashujaa Day speech written by Donald Kipkorir for President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Abdullahi described the speech as 'stuffy', 'drab', 'dull', 'dark', and 'stale', saying it lacked the vibrancy and energy expected of such an occasion.
Abdullahi's comments were made on Twitter, where he wrote: 'DRAB, DULL, DARK... and even stale and stuffy...'
Donald Kipkorir, the speech's author, defended his work by referencing an ancient Roman saying: 'Every painter runs own workshop and each thought is the greatest.'
However, Kipkorir went on to elaborate on the saying, stating: 'In Ancient Rome, each Painter ran own workshops & each thought he was the greater artist.... History was kind to all but determined who was greatest of All... And in modern age, we all have equal opportunity to express our thoughts.... When we are gone, History will Judge.'
Abdullahi's criticism of Kipkorir's speech has sparked a debate on social media, with many weighing in on the merits of the speech.
